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W^ith Rogers on the Frontier 





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I AM SETH ALLEN FROM MASSACHUSETTS 





WITH ROGERS 
ON THE FRONTIER 


A Story of 1 756 

bt 

J. Macdonald Oxley, B.A. 

Author of “L’Hasa at Last,” “On the World’s Roof,” 
“Bert Lloyd’s Boyhood” Etc., Etc. 

With Four Illustrations hy F. J. DEVITT 



NEW YORK 

A. WESSELS COMPANY 

IQ02 



Copyright, 1902 

A. WESSELS COMPANY 




TH£ LIBRARY of 

CONGRESS, 
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CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 

I. English Against French, 


• 

PAGE 

7 

II. 

A Perilous Ride, . 


• 

16 

III. 

Bullets and Bayonets, 

• • 

• 

25 

IV. 

The Defeat of Dieskau, 

• • 

• 

36 

V. 

Off on a Scout, 

• • 

• 

45 

VI. 

One of Rogers’ Rangers, 

• • 

• 

56 

VII. 

Reuben Gets into the Rangers 

Also, 

• 

67 

VIII. 

Off to Crown Point, . 

• • 

• 

76 

IX. 

Doing Damage to the Enemy, 

t • 

• 

86 

X. 

To Boston Town, . 

• » 

• 

95 

XI. 

Seth Receives Promotion, . 

• • 


106 

XII. 

From Peril to Peril, . 

• • 

• 

117 

XIII. 

Scouting in Whaleboats, 

• • 

• 

127 

XIV. 

The Fight in the Forest, . 

• • 

• 

137 

XV. 

Fort William Henry in Danger, 


147 

XVI. 

The Foiling of the French, 



158 

XVII. 

The Siege of Fort William Henry, 

• 

168 

XVIII. 

The Massacre of the English, 

• • 

• 

179 

XIX. 

An Adventure in New York, 

• • 

• 

189 

XX. 

Scouting in a New Field, . 

• • 

• 

199 

XXI. 

An Easy Triumph, 

• • 

• 

211 

XXII. 

At Close Grips with Death, 

• • 

• 

222 

XXIII. 

Out of Captivity into Action Again, 


232 

XXIV. 

The Glorious Victory, 

. 

» 

242 




* 



























































WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


CHAPTER I 

ENGLISH AGAINST FRENCH 

The great conflict between England and 
France for supremacy upon the North Ameri- 
can continent was drawing near its final stage. 
It had been waged for more than a century with 
varying fortunes, and over a vast extent of terri- 
tory. The sea-girt province of Acadia in the 
extreme east, and the rich valley of the Ohio in 
the far west had alike been the scene of bloody 
encounters, and now the combatants were com- 
ing to close grips in that picturesque and beauti- 
ful portion of New York State where the twin 
lakes Champlain and George lay embosomed 
amid forest-clad hills. 

The possession of these lakes was divided be- 
tween the two .rivals, the French being masters 
of Lake Champlain, and the English of Lake 
George, and their crystal waters were again and 
again reddened with the life blood of the antag- 
onists and their Indian allies as they fought 
fiercely for the prize of sole possession that the 
7 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


way between Canada and the colonies might be 
completely closed to whichever power was van- 
quished. 

In the spring of the year 1755 the New Eng- 
land colonies combined to undertake the capt- 
ure of Crown Point, the French stronghold on 
Lake Champlain, which for the past quarter of 
a century had been a veritable hornet’s nest. 
To Governor Shirley of Massachusetts was due 
the credit of inspiring the undertaking, and 
his province was foremost in voting men and 
money toward its accomplishment, Connecti- 
cut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and finally 
New York followed suit, and the result was a 
little army of several thousand men, whose ap- 
pearance would have filled a European com- 
mander with scorn. 

For they were none of them soldiers, but 
simply farmers and farmers’ sons who had gal- 
lantly volunteered for the campaign, leaving 
their scattered dingy homes in the midst of 
rough fields of corn and pumpkins to shoulder 
the guns they all knew so well how to use, and 
when the fighting was over, if so be that they 
escaped the bullet and tomahawk, to return to 
their ploughing and sowing as though they had 
merely been out on a hunting trip. 

Only one corps boasted a uniform, blue faced 
with red. The others were content with their 

ordinary clothes, and the most of them brought 
8 


ENGLISH AGAINST FRENCH 


their own guns. They had no bayonets, but 
carried hatchets in their belts instead, and at 
their sides were slung powder-horns on which 
they had carved quaint devices with the points 
of their pocket knives. 

Their whole appearance was neither martial 
nor picturesque, and gave them no excuse for 
pride, but they were brave, brawny fellows, clear 
of head, quick of eye, swift of foot, and sure of 
hand, and incomparably better adapted for the 
irregular warfare of the time than the highly 
disciplined soldiery of either England or France. 
They knew the forests as the city-bred man 
knows the streets, and by day or night could 
traverse their fastnesses without fear of losing 
their way or falling into the hands of the enemy. 

They were of all ages and sizes so to speak, 
from boys in their teens to gray-haired grand- 
fathers, and from dwarfs to giants, but they all 
could give a good account of themselves in a 
fight either at long or close range. 

The commander of this curious army was no 
less remarkable than his men, for he had never 
seen service, and knew nothing of war. An 
Irishman by birth, William Johnson had held an 
extensive domain on the banks of the Mohawk 
River for a score of years, and grown powerful 
and rich by trading with the Indians of the 
Five Nations who found him far more honest 
and reliable than his Dutch rivals in the busi- 
9 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


ness, and over whom he came to acquire so pro- 
found an influence that the Government made 
him Indian Superintendent, an appointment 
that was hailed with joy throughout the Iroquois 
Confederacy. 

He had taken to himself a Mohawk squaw 
for wife, and lived in almost baronial style in a 
fortified house which was a stronghold against 
his foes and a centre of lavish hospitality to 
friends and visitors whether white or red. 

Governor Shirley had chosen him for the re- 
sponsible post of commander because by so do- 
ing he prevented any jealousy among the New 
England colonies, gratified the important pro- 
vince of New York, and secured the co-opera- 
tion of the Five Nations, a threefold advantage 
that could be secured in no other way. 

The gathering place was at Albany, and here 
in the month of July were assembled several 
thousand provincials ready for the fray. Hither 
also came a swarm of Johnson’s Mohawks, war- 
riors, squaws, and children. They made things 
very lively. They adorned the General’s face 
with war-paint, and he joined them in the war 
dance, and then with his sword cut the first slice 
from the ox that had been roasted whole for 
their entertainment. 

“ I shall be glad,” remarked a New England 
surgeon surveying the somewhat riotous goings- 
on with a touch of complacent contempt, “if 


ENGLISH AGAINST FRENCH 


they fight as eagerly as they ate their ox, and 
drank their wine.” 

Among the spectators of these rude festivities 
stood a youth whose otherwise pleasing counte- 
nance was so clouded that one seeing it could 
hardly fail to wonder what troubled him thus 
deeply. 

Although still in his teens he had reached the 
stature of a man, and his well-knit figure gave 
evidence of no common share of strength and 
activity. He was dressed in a suit of tanned 
buckskin that became him particularly well, and 
with his double-barrelled smoothbore, carved 
powder-horn, keen-edged tomahawk, and long- 
bladed hunting knife was fully equipped to meet 
the foe. 

The son of a pioneer settler upon the northern 
border of Massachusetts, Seth Allen had already 
drunk to its depths the cup of sorrow, for at one 
fell swoop the dusky allies of the French had 
rendered him a homeless orphan. With his 
own eyes he had beheld his parents tomahawked 
and scalped, the farmhouse burned, and the 
stock slaughtered while he had been carried off 
for torture in the Indian camp. 

Escaping by a happy chance he made his way 
back to New England, and at once volunteered 
for active service against the French. Hence- 
forward he had but one purpose in life — to serve 
his country in the field, and in view of what he 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


had suffered it is easy to understand with what 
impatience he awaited the advance of the Eng- 
lish against Crown Point, and how he chafed at 
the delay which seemed to him inexcusable. 

Now above all things this expedition needed 
to act promptly, and yet preparations went on 
with exasperating slowness. The troops and 
supplies were contributed by five different legis- 
latures, and they each wanted their own way 
about something. Indeed at one time there was 
a regular deadlock because they could not agree 
as to their respective quotas of artillery and 
stores. 

“ The expedition goes on very much as a snail 
runs,” grumbled Surgeon Williams. “ It seems 
we may possibly see Crown Point this time 
twelve months.” 

Seth Allen, burning with eagerness to forget 
in the excitement of action the horrors which 
haunted his memory, could not understand why 
there should be all this useless dawdling, and 
one day ventured to address a group of men 
whom he knew to be among the leaders. 

“ Can you tell me, good sirs,” he said, doffing 
his cap respectfully, “ how much longer we are 
to be here doing nothing? ” 

In the little party were Colonel Titcomb and 
Seth Pomeroy of Massachusetts, who had both 
fought so well at Louisbourg, the sturdy Israel 
Putnam of Connecticut, and brave John Stark 


ENGLISH AGAINST FRENCH 


of New Hampshire, and they all turned to look 
at the speaker while a suspicion of a smile curved 
the corners of their lips. 

“Your question is not easy to answer, young 
man.” It was Colonel Titcomb who spoke. 
“We would fain have some definite knowledge 
upon that matter ourselves. But may I inquire 
your name, and how you came here ? You seem 
to have scarce sufficient years for such hard 
fighting as must fall to our lot if our purpose be 
effected.” 

A ruddy glow showed through the tan of the 
youth’s cheeks, and he lowered both head and 
voice as he replied : 

“ My name is Seth Allen, and I come from 
Massachusetts. My father and mother were 
killed by the Indians who are in league with the 
French, and our home was burned. I am here 
because I have no other desire than to fight 
against those who have broken my heart.” 

There was a strange simplicity in the words. 
They came from the heart of the speaker, and 
they went straight to the hearts of his hearers. 
The veteran warriors looked at each other, and 
then at the youth with eyes full of intelligent 
sympathy, and Colonel Pomeroy, stepping for- 
ward, laid his hand gently upon the youth’s 
shoulder, saying: 

“We have heard of your sad story. No one 
has better reason to be here than you, and we 
13 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


can well understand how hard you find this 
waiting. But patience is a soldierly virtue, and 
you must have your share of it. There will be 
plenty of fighting in due time.” 

The blush deepened upon Seth’s countenance 
at the implied reproof, and, murmuring his ex- 
cuses for having thus interrupted their confer- 
ence, he moved away. 

“ That boy bears a heavy heart,” said Colonel 
Titcomb, “ and I should not like to be either the 
first Frenchman or Indian that he meets, for he 
has a long account to settle with our hated foes.” 

Patience in no small degree certainly was re- 
quired by the provincials who had gathered to- 
gether for active service, not to waste time in 
aimless dallying, and their anxiety to be up and 
doing was increased when the four Mohawk 
scouts which Johnson had sent to Canada re- 
turned with the startling intelligence that the 
French were fully informed of the English de- 
signs, and that eight thousand men were being 
sent to the defence of Crown Point. 

Upon this a council of war was held whereat 
it was decided to send to the several provinces 
for reinforcements, and at the same time to be- 
gin the movement northward lest the volunteers, 
wearied of inaction, should lose heart in the 
enterprise. 

Accordingly the main body, accompanied by 
a train of Dutch wagons, marched slowly over 
*4 


ENGLISH AGAINST FRENCH 


the stumps and roots of a newly made road, and 
presently reached the borders of the most beau- 
tiful lake which Johnson loyally called Lake 
George in honor of the King of England. 

Here camp was made on a piece of rough 
ground by the water’s edge, the men pitching 
their tents among the stumps of the lately felled 
trees. 

With a clear water-way to their destination, 
and hundreds of bateaux hauled overland from 
Fort Lyman (afterward called Fort Edward), 
ready to transport them thither, the men’s spirits 
rose, for they naturally thought they would soon 
be led against the enemy, but in this they were 
again disappointed. 

Johnson sent out scouts in different directions, 
but otherwise did nothing, and Seth Allen, at last 
unable to endure the continued inaction any 
longer, begged so earnestly of his captain to be 
allowed to go out scouting, that when an Indian 
brought word that he had found the trail of a 
body of men moving toward Fort Lyman, and 
Johnson called for a volunteer to carry a letter 
of warning to Colonel Blanchard, the commander 
of the fort, the captain at once sent for Seth, 
and telling him what was wanted said: 

“ Now, young man, there’s the chance you 
have been fretting for.” 

“And I’m ready to take it,” responded Seth 
promptly. 


CHAPTER II 


A PERILOUS RIDE 

In order to a clear understanding of the situa- 
tion it is necessary at this point to leave the 
provincial army for a little while and take a 
glance at what the French were doing. 

They were by no means idle. While the 
British were preparing to attack Crown Point 
they were preparing to defend it, having first 
got warning of their purpose from the letters of 
the unfortunate Braddock found on the battle- 
field, which information was confirmed by the 
report of a reconnoitring party that had made 
its way as far as the Hudson, and returned with 
the news that Johnson’s forces were already on 
the field. 

The Marquis de Vandreuil, Governor of 
Canada, who on his part had been meditating 
an expedition for the capture of Oswego, and 
for this purpose had got together several battal- 
ions of regular soldiers under the command of 
Baron Dieskau, thereupon changed their des- 
tination from Lake Ontario to Lake Champlain. 

Passing up the Richelieu River these troops 

embarked in boats and canoes for Crown Point. 

16 


A PERILOUS RIDE 


Their veteran leader knew that the foes with 
whom he had to deal were not disciplined sol- 
diers, but simply a mob of countrymen, and he 
never doubted for a moment that he would put 
them to flight at the first meeting, and keep 
them going until he had cha:,ed them back to 
Albany. Such, too, was the pleasant conviction 
of the Marquis de Vandreuil, who wrote to him 
in this strain: 

“ Make all haste, for when you return we shall 
send you to Oswego to execute our first design.” 

And he had obeyed orders to such good pur- 
pose that while Johnson’s force lay idle at Lake 
George he had reached Crown Point at the head 
of nearly four thousand men, regulars, Canadi- 
ans, and Indians. 

Dieskau had no thought of waiting to be at- 
tacked. His troops were commanded to hold 
themselves ready to move at a moment’s notice. 
The officers were bidden to take nothing with 
them but one spare shirt, one spare pair of 
shoes, a blanket, a bearskin, and twelve days’ 
provisions, while the Indians were strictly en- 
joined not to amuse themselves by taking scalps 
until the enemy was entirely defeated, since they 
could kill ten men in the time required to scalp 
one, a grim injunction that reveals like a light- 
ning flash the barbarity of that border warfare 
when all the laws of humanity were ignored. 

Early in the month of September a scouting 
2 17 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


party brought in an English prisoner caught 
near Fort Lyman. He was questioned under 
threat of being handed over to the Indians for 
torture if he did not tell the truth, but, nothing 
daunted, he endeavored to lure the French into 
a trap by telling them that the English army had 
fallen back to Albany, leaving only a few hun- 
dred men at Fort Lyman, which he said was a 
place to be easily taken. 

Dieskau at once resolved on a rapid move- 
ment to seize the fort, and, leaving a part of his 
force at Ticonderoga, he embarked the rest in 
canoes, and hurried along through the narrow 
part of Lake Champlain, stretching southward 
through the wilderness. 

Reaching the lower end of the lake they left 
their canoes under guard, and began their march 
through the dense forest toward Fort Lyman. 
They numbered fifteen hundred in all, and it 
was concerning their approach that the report 
had been brought in to the English camp, which 
Seth Allen was ready to carry to the endangered 
fort. 

“You seem a likely lad,” said Johnson when 
Seth was brought to him, “ and will no doubt 
do as well as any one. You had better take a 
horse. You will run a better chance of getting 
through.” 

Seth was quite willing to make the venture 

afoot, but he was still better pleased to be 
18 


A PERILOUS RIDE 


mounted, and a little later he galloped away 
over the rough road on his perilous task with 
the important letter hidden in his bosom. 

For the first time since coming to the camp he 
felt in good spirits, and he would have whistled 
to keep himself company had he not known bet- 
ter than to make any more noise than was abso- 
lutely necessary. 

He fully realized the danger he was running. 
Capture by the French meant probable torture, 
and certain death, while the chances were that if 
perceived by the foe or their merciless allies he 
would be shot on sight as so many others had 
been before him. 

But this knowledge in no wise clouded his 
brave young spirit. He was too glad at being 
allowed to undertake the perilous mission to be 
concerned about his safety, and with every fac- 
ulty keen for hint or sign of danger he hastened 
along the stump-strewn road toward his destina- 
tion. 

A high rate of speed was not possible owing 
to the roughness of the road, but he made very 
good progress nevertheless, and one-half the 
fourteen miles of the way had been covered ere 
the still solitude through which he was passing 
gave token of other human life. 

Then it was revealed in startling enough 
fashion, for as Seth rode along carefully through 
the stumps and roots which were ready to bring 
19 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


his steed to his knees, a shot rang out on his 
right, followed by a blood-curdling whoop, and 
a bullet whistled uncomfortably close to his head. 

“ Now for it ! ” he exclaimed, bending low over 
his horse’s neck and driving in the spurs. 

The willing creature responded with a bound 
that nearly unseated his rider and then sprang 
away at the top of his speed, soon leaving the 
Indian scout far behind. 

If he were the only one to discover Seth it 
would be well enough, but that was hardly to be 
hoped for. The very fact of his presence implied 
the proximity of the French as Seth thoroughly 
understood, and at any moment others might 
show themselves. 

On he rode, glancing anxiously to right and 
left, yet keeping a close watch on his horse. 
Again and again the animal stumbled over a 
root, but, thanks to Seth’s skill in the saddle, did 
not go down, and the remaining distance to Fort 
Lyman was rapidly being decreased, when once 
more peril appeared in the path. 

This time it was a small party of Canadians 
out on scouting duty, and they were right in the 
rider’s road. He must either turn back, or go 
on to apparently certain capture. 

For an instant Seth was at a loss which course 
to pursue. Then with that quickness of decision 
which was characteristic of him he determined 
upon a desperate expedient. 

20 


A PERILOUS RIDE 


Reining in his horse he approached the Cana- 
dians at a walk as if he meant to surrender, 
whereby they were thrown off their guard. 
Counting upon an easy capture they dropped 
their guns which they had been holding in readi- 
ness to fire, and as Seth came up called out to 
him in jeering tones that he was their prisoner. 

By way of response Seth, now within a few 
yards of them, clapped spurs to his horse, and 
drove him right into the centre of the little group. 

This sudden and unexpected action took them 
completely by surprise. With oaths and angry 
exclamations they threw themselves out of the 
way of the horse, which ere they could recover 
and take aim with their guns, was many yards 
away galloping furiously along the road. 

A scattering volley followed the fugitive, but 
not one of the leaden messengers touched him 
as he crouched over the horse’s neck, and only 
one hit the animal, inflicting a slight wound in 
the hind quarter that simply served to quicken 
its speed. 

For the rest of the way Seth did not spare his 
steed. Taking chances every minute of a fall 
that might mean the rendering of one or both 
of them helpless, he galloped on until at last the 
welcome sight of Fort Lyman gladdened his 
eyes, and presently he pulled up the panting 
creature which had borne him so well at the gate 

that was quickly opened to receive him. 

21 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


Colonel Blanchard thanked him warmly for 
the warning message, and bade him stay at the 
fort until it would be safe for him to return to 
Lake George. 

Immediately all possible preparations for de- 
fence were made at Fort Lyman, and full of 
anxiety its garrison awaited the expected attack. 

But the days went by without bringing any 
sign of the enemy, and Seth again began to grow 
impatient. The confinement of the fort became 
irksome to his liberty-loving nature. He felt 
sure that there was plenty to be done at Lake 
George, and chafed at waiting in idleness inside 
the fort, where there was nothing to occupy 
the long hours. 

Had the garrison known the reason for the 
non-appearance of the enemy they might not 
only have rested with easy minds, but might 
even have taken the field on their own account, 
as all danger of attack had passed for a time. 
The change of plan on the part of the French 
had been brought about in this way. 

They had made their way through the forest 
until they were within three miles of Fort Ly- 
man, and there as they halted for the night a 
dozen wagons came along the road from Lake 
George. They were in charge of mutinous 
drivers who had left the English camp without 
orders, little dreaming the punishment that 

waited their misconduct. Several of them were 
22 


A PERILOUS RIDE 


shot, two were captured, and the remainder es- 
caped into the woods with the Indians at their 
heels. 

The two captives on being questioned, told 
a very different story from the prisoner taken 
by the scouting party a few days previously. 
According to them, instead of the English hav- 
ing fallen back upon Albany, they were en- 
camped in large force at Lake George. 

When the Indians heard this they held a 
council and decided that they would not attack 
the fort which they thought well supplied with 
cannon, but they were quite willing to go 
against the camp at the lake. 

All remonstrances went for nothing. They 
were not to be moved from their resolution, and 
Baron Dieskau had perforce to alter his plan of 
campaign. Now he was not only young but 
daring to rashness, and burning with eagerness 
to emulate the recent victory over Braddock. 
According to the reports the enemy greatly out- 
numbered him, but his Canadian advisers had 
assured him that the English colonial militia 
were the worst troops on the face of the earth. 

“ The more there are of them, the more we 
shall kill,” he said with complacent confidence 
to his Canadian and Indian allies, and in the 
morning the order was given to leave Fort Ly- 
man alone, and to march to the lake. 

In the mean time Seth Allen, made desper- 
23 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


ate by delay, in spite of the efforts of his friends 
to restrain him, left the fort, and, by making a 
wide detour, succeeded in reaching the camp in 
safety, although almost every foot of the way 
thither had been fraught with perils. 

Here he found the whole place astir, for an 
advance against the French was about to take 
place. Congratulating himself upon having ar- 
rived in time to take part in it Seth carefully 
examined his fighting gear, to make sure that 
everything was in readiness for active service. 


24 


CHAPTER III 


BULLETS AND BAYONETS 

By the wagoners who had managed to escape 
the fate which befell their companions Johnson 
had been warned of the proximity of the French 
war party, but he somehow formed a very wrong 
conception of its strength. 

Instead of preparing to meet them with his 
full force his first plan was to send out two de- 
tachments of five hundred men each, one going 
toward Fort Lyman, and the other toward 
South Bay, with the object of catching the 
enemy in their retreat. 

But Hendrick, the brave and sagacious chief 
of the Mohawks, expressed his dissent after the 
dramatic fashion of his race. Picking up a sin- 
gle stick he broke it easily with his hands. 
Then picking up several, he put them together 
and showed that they could not be broken thus. 

Johnson was shrewd enough to take the hint, 
and directed that the two detachments be join- 
ed in one. Still the old savage shook his head. 

“ If they are to be killed,” said he, “ they are 
too many. If they are to fight, they are too 
few.” 


25 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


But the commander would make no further 
change, and the Indian not only ceased his ob- 
jections, but mounted on a gun carriage and 
harangued his warriors, exhorting them to fight 
bravely for their friends, and to show no mercy 
to their enemies. 

The morning was still young when the thou- 
sand men, under the command of Ephraim 
Williams and Colonel Whiting, marched off 
from the camp in quest of the French, their 
orders being to intercept their supposed re- 
treat, and if possible find and destroy their 
canoes. 

Seth Allen was with the vanguard, his pulse 
beating rapidly, and every nerve aquiver, for he 
felt it in his bones that there would be plenty of 
fighting before the day ended. 

“ I hope the French will wait for us,” he said 
to Elisha Halley, by whom he was walking. 
“ Maybe if they get warning of our advance they 
will go back to their canoes and we have noth- 
ing to follow them with on the water.” 

Elisha smiled contemptuously as he replied : 

“It all depends upon how many they are and 
what they know about our strength. If they 
think they outnumber us they will not fail to 
wait for us, but if we outnumber them they will 
retreat fast enough. Nevertheless I think we 
ought to go forward carefully. They might be 
lying in ambush somewhere ahead.” 


BULLETS AND BAYONETS 


The Colonials certainly showed a lack of 
common sense and utter ignorance of strategy 
in their advance against the enemy, for no 
scouts were thrown out in front or flank. They 
pushed on in full security until the sharp eye of 
old Hendrick detected a sign of danger. 

He at once gave warning, but it was too late. 
The dense thickets on the left suddenly blazed 
out a deadly fire, and the English fell by scores. 
The head of the column, as Dieskau afterward 
boasted, “ was doubled up like a pack of cards.” 
The old Mohawk chief’s horse, on which he 
rode because he was so old and fat, was shot 
under him, and he himself killed with a bayonet 
as he tried to gain his feet. 

Seth had a wonderful escape. The bullets 
whistled past him on either side, but left him 
untouched, and he returned the fire with his 
own gun as best he could in the midst of the 
fearful confusion. 

Although it was his first experience of battle 
he felt no qualm of fear. On the contrary, all 
his nervousness vanished, and thinking only 
how he might fight to the best advantage, he 
loaded and fired as rapidly as possible. 

Presently the voice of Ephraim Williams was 
heard calling upon his men to follow him to a 
piece of rising ground on the right, and Seth 
obeyed the command. 

“We must rally, men, or we will all be de- 

27 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


stroyed.” Williams cried as he led them up the 
slope. 

But he had not reached half-way when there 
came a volley from the bushes that laid him 
dead. And it was followed close by a hot fire 
poured in on the right flank. 

Then there was a panic. Many fled outright. 
The whole column recoiled and began to re- 
treat. Its van became the rear, and all the force 
of the enemy rushed upon it, shouting and 
screeching. 

Seth found himself entangled in a mob of 
terrified men who had no other thought than 
to get out of reach of the deadly fire of their 
assailants; and, although his spirit rebelled 
against this ignominious flight, he had no alter- 
native than to take part in it. 

Happily after a brief interval of confusion 
Colonel Whiting succeeded in rallying a part of 
Williams’ regiment; and they, adopting Indian 
tactics, fighting behind trees, and firing and fall- 
ing back by turns, were able with the aid of the 
Mohawks to cover the retreat. 

“A very handsome retreat they made,” was 
the testimony of Colonel Pomeroy, “ and so con- 
tinued until they came within about three-quar- 
ters of a mile of our camp. This was the last 
fire our men gave our enemies which killed 
great numbers of them ; and they were seen to 
drop as pigeons.” 


BULLETS AND BAYONETS 


In the alternate fighting and falling back Seth 
took his full share, using the tree trunks for 
cover as cleverly as any of the Indians, and fir- 
ing and reloading his musket with all possible 
speed, yet aiming carefully so that his bullets 
might not be wasted. 

The lust of battle had full possession of him. 
He utterly forgot himself in the deadly business 
of the moment, and without a quiver of nerve 
saw white men and red falling beside him and 
in front of him mortally smitten. 

Again and again the leaden messengers of 
death passed perilously close to him, but he re- 
mained unscathed. As the fierce conflict began 
to slacken somewhat he observed a Colonial, 
who had not been quick enough in retreat, 
stumble and fall headlong, and the next instant 
a stalwart Indian, hideous with war paint, 
sprang out from the enemy’s line and dashed 
toward the man tomahawk in hand. 

Seth had just fired and there was no time to 
reload. If he would save his helpless country- 
man it must be by exposing himself to a like 
fate. Yet he did not hesitate. 

Holding his heavy gun in readiness to use as 
a club, he sprang from behind the tree-trunk 
which had sheltered him and rushed into the 
zone of fire. 

His action was redeemed from utter reckless- 
ness by the heroic impulse which inspired it, 

29 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


and to the credit of the French be it said that 
they forebore to fire upon him, leaving it to the 
Indian to deal with him first, and then accom- 
plish what he had set out to do. 

The Iroquois, when he saw the youth coming 
at him, gave a grunt of contempt and raised his 
tomahawk menacingly. But Seth kept right on 
until he had got within striking distance, when 
whirling his gun around his head he aimed a 
terrible blow at his opponent. 

The latter sprang aside to evade it, and as he 
did so his foot caught in a hidden root and he 
fell forward on his knees. Ere he could recover 
himself the butt of Seth’s musket took him in 
the back of the head, and over he went like a 
log, the tomahawk flying from his nerveless 
grasp. 

While this was happening, the fallen colo- 
nial had got to his feet again and was looking 
about in a bewildered way, having lost his bear- 
ings and not knowing in which direction to con- 
tinue the flight interrupted by his fall. 

“ Here, come with me,” cried Seth, grasping 
his arm. “ Bend as low as you can and run for 
your life.” 

The fellow obeyed instantly and the two of 
them made all haste back to their own lines, 
followed by a volley from the enemy which hap- 
pily, however, did neither of them any harm. 

Seth’s gallant feat won the admiration of all 
30 


BULLETS AND BAYONETS 


who beheld it, and the profound gratitude of 
the man to whom he had rendered such timely 
succor, and who proved to be from his own 
province. 

When Dieskau saw that the English had 
really rallied, and were returning the fire of his 
men with deadly effect, he ordered a halt and 
had the trumpet sounded to collect his scattered 
men, with the purpose of pressing forward in 
good order so as to make the most of the ad- 
vantage already gained. 

Had he been able to do so he could hardly 
have failed to gain a complete victory over 
Johnson, but fortunately for the latter, the Iro- 
quois, who had lost many of their braves, be- 
came sullen and unmanageable, and the French 
Canadians, whose veteran leader, Legardeur 
de St. Pierre, had been killed, showed signs of 
wavering, and it was not until after considerable 
delay that the advance was made with the regu- 
lars leading the way. 

Meantime in Johnson’s camp there had been 
great anxiety and no little confusion. About 
an hour after Williams had marched out with 
his thousand men the sound of heavy firing 
was heard in the distance, and as it grew nearer 
and louder those in the camp realized that 
their comrades, instead of pursuing a flying foe, 
were themselves in retreat. 

Johnson at once set about preparations for 
31 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


defence which should have been made long 
before. A barricade constructed of wagons, in- 
verted bateaux, and tree trunks was hurriedly 
made along the front of the camp, and three 
cannons were planted so as to sweep the road, 
while a fourth was dragged up to the ridge of 
the hill. 

In^the midst of this confusion the defeated 
party began to come in. First, scared fugitives, 
both white and red ; then gangs of men bring- 
ing the wounded, and finally the main body 
marching in good order down the road. 
Among these was Seth, very much out of hu- 
mor at having to turn his back on the enemy, 
and hoping in his heart that they would have 
the courage to attack the camp. 

“ If we hadn’t been such fools as to walk right 
into the trap they laid for us,” he said to the 
man he had rescued as they marched together, 
“we’d not be running from them now, but 
they’d be running from us, and thinking only 
how far it was to Crown Point.” 

“You’re just right,” emphatically responded 
the other, whose name was John Wilcox. 
“ There ought to have been scouts ahead of us 
to give us warning. I don’t know what our col- 
onel was thinking about when he let us go on 
like that, as if there were no French within 
twenty miles of us.” 

But of course it is always easy to be wise after 
3 2 


BULLETS AND BAYONETS 


the event, and now that the blunder had been 
committed, and had cost so dearly, it only re- 
mained to make the best of what was certainly 
a very serious situation. 

Accordingly five hundred men were detailed 
to guard the flanks of the camp, while the re- 
mainder took up their position behind the wag- 
ons, or lay flat behind the logs and upturned 
bateaux, the Massachusetts men being on the 
right and the Connecticut men on the left. 
Not counting the Indians the actual fighting 
force numbered about seventeen hundred, the 
majority of them being rustics, who had never 
been under fire until that morning. 

They were hardly settled at their posts when 
Seth’s keen eyes caught the flash of bayonets 
through the boughs, and a minute later the 
white-coated regulars of France came into view, 
marching steadily down the road in serried 
array. At the same time a terrific burst of war- 
whoops rose on either side of them, and in the 
words of Pomeroy to his wife, “ the Canadians 
and Indians helter-skelter, the woods full of 
them, came running with undaunted courage 
right down the hill upon us, expecting to make 
us flee.” 

But in this they were greatly mistaken, for 
although some of the Colonials grew uneasy, 
their officers, sword in hand, threatened in- 
stant death to any who should attempt to 
3 33 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


leave their posts, and not one of them made a 
move. 

Seth could not help admiring the steadiness 
shown by the regulars in their advance. Dies- 
kau certainly had them well in hand, but the 
rest of his force, both red and white, scattered 
through the woods shouting, whooping, and fir- 
ing from behind trees. 

Well was it indeed for the English that their 
opponents as a whole did not display the same 
good discipline as the French, for had they done 
so the result would have been disastrous ; but 
when only the regulars obeyed orders their at- 
tack lost much of its force and gave Captain 
Eyre, who commanded the artillery, a chance to 
open upon them with grape, which he did so 
effectually as to break up their orderly array 
and compel them to take to cover. 

The firing on both sides now became general, 
and soon waxed so furious that to quote again 
Pomeroy’s graphic words, “ The hail stones from 
heaven were never much thicker than the bul- 
lets,” yet, as he proudly added, “ Blessed be God, 
that did not in the least daunt or disturb us.” 

Seth’s position was on the right flank, and as 
Dieskau first directed his attack against the left 
and centre, he was for a time simply a spectator 
of the struggle. 

But when the commander of the French 
found he was being so stoutly withstood, he 
34 


BULLETS AND BAYONETS 


turned his attention to the right and tried to 
force it. 

“ Ah, ha ! ” exclaimed Seth in a tone of satis- 
faction, “it is our turn now. We will give 
them all they want.” 


35 


CHAPTER IV 


THE DEFEAT OF DIESKAU 

The men from Massachusetts showed no 
more sign of giving back before the enemy 
than had their brethren from the sister prov- 
inces. Loading and firing as quickly as their 
old-fashioned muskets allowed, they poured so 
deadly a fire into the French ranks that the 
latter could make no material advance, but were 
compelled to keep behind cover, and return the 
fire as best they might. 

The conflict had continued in this fashion for 
nearly an hour with considerable loss of life on 
both sides, but without definite advantage, when 
Seth, becoming convinced that an officer in rich 
uniform, whom he could see at the centre of 
the French line, was their commander, deter- 
mined to try if he could not shoot him down, as 
he reasoned that this would put them in a panic. 

So, despite the protests of his companions, to 
whom alone he revealed his design, he crept 
through the barricade and began to crawl nearer 
the enemy. It was an extremely dangerous, not 
to say reckless proceeding, and those of his own 

party who observed it considered him as good 
36 


THE DEFEAT OF DIESKAU 


as lost. Colonel Williams indeed shouted after 
him: 

“ Come back there, young man, you’re going 
to your death ! ” 

But, carried away by his great purpose, Seth 
paid no heed to the command. There was a big 
tree whose wide-spreading roots offered excel- 
lent cover about fifty yards ahead of him, and it 
was for this he was making, as if he reached it 
unharmed, he could thence get good aim at the 
officer he had in mind. 

Lying flat on his stomach, he wriggled on 
slowly, yet steadily. It was as difficult work as 
it was dangerous, and demanded all his young 
strength. At any moment he might be per- 
ceived by an Iroquois or Canadian, who would 
make a quick dash forward and despatch him as 
he lay upon the ground. More than once a ran- 
dom bullet struck the turf uncomfortably near 
him. 

Yet with grim determination he kept on, and 
at last, when nearly spent with the exertion, 
reached the roots of the big tree, and curled 
himself up there into the smallest possible space 
until his nerves should get steady. 

Then with the utmost caution he peered out 
in quest of the officer. 

“ Good ! ” he exclaimed exultantly as he quick- 
ly withdrew his head. “ He’s there still, and I’ll 
have him as sure as my name is Seth Allen.” 

37 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


Resting the gun upon the root and taking aim 
with the utmost care he pulled the trigger. 

But just as he did so Baron Dieskau, for Seth 
had guessed rightly, made a sudden movement, 
and the bullet went by him harmlessly. 

“ Botheration ! ” growled Seth. “ Why couldn’t 
he keep still?” and he hastened to reload. 

Warned by the whirr of the bullet, Dieskau 
stepped behind a tree and remained there for 
some time, while Seth, chagrined at the result 
of his first shot, impatiently awaited another 
chance. 

It came a little later when the Baron, angered 
by the persistent disobedience to command of 
the Indians and Canadians, forgot his own safety 
and sprang out from cover to give an order to 
the regulars, who were fast falling into confu- 
sion under the well-directed fire of the English. 

“ Now then, sir,” said Seth, as though he were 
speaking to his intended victim, “ I’ll have you 
this time,” and he fired. 

As the report rang out, Baron Dieskau stag- 
gered and fell to the ground, and Seth was for 
the moment tempted to spring to his feet and 
wave his cap triumphantly. 

But he held himself in check, and again loaded 
his musket. The officer had fallen indeed, but 
he might not be killed, and another shot might 
be necessary to dispose of him. That this was 
the case presently became clear, for another 
38 


THE DEFEAT OF DIESKAU 


officer came galloping to the aid of the wounded 
one, and Seth, moved by his unselfish devotion, 
forebore to fire. 

But some of his companions were not so con- 
siderate, and while the adjutant was attending 
to the.wound from Seth’s bullet, the unfortunate 
commander was again hit in the knee and thigh. 

The adjutant, who himself had been wounded, 
then called for the Canadians to carry Baron 
Dieskau to the rear, but on seeing this Seth ex- 
claimed : 

“ Oh, no ! You’re not going to escape. You 
must be taken prisoner,” and fired at one of the 
Canadians, bringing him to the ground, and 
causing the other to seek safety in flight. 

The commander thereupon ordered the adju- 
tant to leave him where he lay and to lead the 
regulars in a last effort against the English camp. 

But it was now too late. Johnson’s men, 
singly or in small squads, were already leaping 
over their barricade and falling upon their an- 
tagonists with their hatchets and the butts of 
their guns. The French and their allies alike 
fled before the fierce onslaught, and their sorely 
wounded yet dauntless commander was again 
shot before he fell into the hands of those who, 
realizing who he was, carried him off to John- 
son, who had himself been wounded earlier in 
the day. 

It was late in the afternoon when the final 
39 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


rout took place, and all through that night the 
shattered French force continued its flight 
through the forest, reaching their canoes the 
following day in a deplorable condition, for they 
had left their knapsacks behind, and were spent 
with fatigue and famine. 

Great were the rejoicings in the English camp. 
The Colonials felt as proud of themselves as if 
they had already accomplished all that which 
they had set out to do, and their commander 
was so pleased that he was in no hurry to make 
a further move. He was content to hold his 
own position, which he proceeded to strengthen 
by making a solid breastwork around the camp 
and building a fort on a rising ground by the 
lake. 

But this was just where he erred. He should 
have followed up his success with the utmost 
promptitude, and had he done so it is altogether 
probable that Ticonderoga, if not, indeed, Crown 
Point, could have been taken from the enemy. 

The men from Massachusetts were eager to 
push on, and Seth, who had by no means got 
his fill of fighting, would not have hesitated to 
tell General Johnson in plain language what in 
his opinion ought to be done, but as the great 
man was confined to his tent by his wound, and 
could not even attend the councils of war that 
were held, leaving them to Colonel Lyman, who 
was second in command, he had to content him- 

40 


THE DEFEAT OF DIESKAU 


self by speaking out his mind in camp, which he 
did with decided frankness and force. 

Then followed a miserable period of inaction 
that came near sickening Seth of the whole 
business. Although reinforcements arrived un- 
til by October there were some thirty-six hun- 
dred men in the camp, after various prolonged 
councils it was decided to be unwise to proceed 
against the French. Yet the little army lay 
more than a month longer at the lake, while the 
discontent and disgust of the men increased 
daily under the rains, frosts, and snows of a 
dreary November, until at last some of them, 
throwing off all discipline, went away in squads 
without any pretence of asking leave. 

Seth’s companion was one of these, and he 
strove hard to persuade the young fellow to join 
him. But Seth resolutely refused. 

“No, I’ll stay right [here," he replied, with a 
touch of temper in his tone. “ And you ought 
to do the same. We’re not done with the 
French. If we don’t go against them, they’ll be 
sure to come back, and then there’ll be need of 
us all." 

“ Oh ! as for that," responded Wilcox, “ they’ll 
not be back before spring, and we can get 
here first easily enough, and be ready to meet 
them." 

But Seth was not to be tempted. He let Wil- 
cox and others go away, and when at last it was 
41 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


decided that the forts should be garrisoned by a 
certain number of men from each province, and 
that the rest of the army should be permitted to 
return to their homes, he promptly offered him- 
self for garrison duty. 

It would probably be dull, dreary work, but 
he preferred it to going back to what had once 
been his happy home, but now fraught with 
such harrowing associations, and so he settled 
down to the monotonous routine of helping to 
keep guard at the hastily built and by no means 
impregnable fort. 

As the days dragged by almost without inci- 
dent, Seth again grew restless, and set himself 
to consider how he might find some diversion. 
By this time winter had fully set in, and the 
basin of the lake was covered with ice. Seth 
was a strong and expert skater, and whiled away 
many an afternoon speeding over the glassy sur- 
face or working out figures upon it. 

In this amusement several others of the little 
garrison joined him, and one in particular, Reu- 
ben Thayer, from Connecticut, made the exer- 
cise more interesting by rivalling Seth in feats 
of skill and speed. 

These two quite outshone their companions, 
and this served as a bond of friendship between 
them, neither being at all jealous of the other’s 
proficiency. 

One bright, clear day, when the ice was in 
42 


THE DEFEAT OF DIESKAU 


superb condition, a daring design flashed into 
Seth’s mind, which he made haste to share with 
his friend. 

“ How would you like to take a good long 
skate, Reuben?” he asked in a significant tone, 
which caused the other to guess that the ques- 
tion had a purpose behind it. 

Reuben gave him a searching glance as he 
replied : 

“ That depends. Which way were you think- 
ing of going ? ” 

Seth paused long enough before answering to 
give special emphasis to his words, although he 
took care to utter them in a tone of well-feigned 
carelessness. 

“ Oh, up north ! There’s nothing to see at 
this end of the lake.” 

A smile of intelligence broke over Reuben’s 
homely countenance. The answer was just what 
he expected, and he was quite ready to share its 
spirit. 

“ How far north might you be thinking of go- 
ing, Seth?” he inquired. 

“ Until it seems best to turn back, if we don’t 
want to stay there for good,” responded Seth, 
returning the smile of comprehension. 

“Very good. I’m willing to go with you. 
Shall we ask any of the others to join us? ” 

“ No, Reuben, I think we’d better not. If 
anything happens, we’ll have only ourselves to 
43 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


think about, and none of the rest can skate 
alongside of us anyway.” 

In saying this Seth was not making a mere 
empty boast, for in truth both he and Reuben 
could easily distance anybody else in the gar- 
rison. 

So the two friends made it up between them 
that they would vary the monotony of their lives 
by undertaking the perilous enterprise of a 
scout on skates in the direction of Crown Point. 


44 


CHAPTER V 


OFF ON A SCOUT 

When Seth communicated his design to the 
commander of the fort, the latter at first made 
fun of him. Then, finding he was in thorough 
earnest, sought to dissuade him from it ; but at 
last, realizing the seriousness of the young fel- 
low’s purpose, and coming to think that, after 
all, he might carry it through successfully and 
gain some valuable information, he consented 
to him and Reuben making the venture. 

They set out in the early morning of a De- 
cember day, each having a blanket and a knap- 
sack, containing four days’ provisions, strapped 
on his back, and the rest of the garrison gave 
them a cheer as they glided away northward. 

They were both in high spirits, for the re- 
straint of garrison life had become very weari- 
some, and the outing they had now started upon 
was very much to their mind, despite its proba- 
bility of peril. 

“ I wonder will any of the French be thinking 
of the same thing,” said Seth as with strong 
steady strokes they sped over the glistening ice. 
“ Their Canadians must be good skaters even if 
45 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 

they’re not themselves, and you’d think they’d 
be curious to know what we’ve been doing since 
we sent them back so much sadder and wiser 
than they came.” 

“ We must keep a sharp look-out for them,” 
answered Reuben, “ for we certainly don’t want 
to get into any such trap as our fellows did at 
first in the fight when they walked right into 
the ambush the French had laid for us.” 

“ No, indeed,” responded Seth emphatically. 
“ They mustn’t catch us like that, and, what’s 
more, they’re not going to.” 

All through the morning they skated on at 
their ease, because there was not the slightest 
chance of any of the enemy being below the 
Narrows, which they had fixed upon as the limit 
of that day’s advance. 

At noon they halted for dinner and a good 
rest. They could have only a cold bite, for it 
would not have been wise to light a fire ; but 
they munched their meat and biscuits content- 
edly, and quenched their thirst at a hole cut in 
the ice. 

While they lay curled up in their blankets in 
a sheltered nook several deer came out of the 
forest near by, and their hunter’s instinct was at 
once aroused. 

“ What a splendid shot ! ” murmured Reuben 
under his breath as his hand went out toward 
his gun. “Just see that fine buck ! ” 

46 


OFF ON A SCOUT 


“Not for your life!” exclaimed Seth in so 
emphatic a tone that it reached the acute ears 
of the deer, and they bounded away out of dan- 
ger. “ When we do fire, it must be at another 
kind of game,” he added, and Reuben meekly 
accepted the reproof. 

When refreshed and rested, they set off again, 
and skated pretty steadily through the after- 
noon, reaching the Narrows on the early dusk 
of the winter’s day. 

Although not a very cold night, it was cheer- 
less enough without a fire ; but they were both 
so tired that they soon fell asleep, and forgot all 
the discomforts of their situation. 

Between the Narrows and Ticonderoga spread 
the broadest part of the lake, and it behooved 
them to be very wary in their further advance 
lest they should be discovered by hostile scouts 
venturing southward. Accordingly the follow- 
ing day they closely skirted the eastern border, 
holding themselves ready to dodge ashore and 
seek concealment in the forest, or to dart out 
toward the centre of the lake according as dan- 
ger might threaten from either direction. 

Several times, as they eagerly scanned the 
country ahead, they thought they caught a 
glimpse of figures moving through the trees; 
but it always proved to be a false alarm, or 
nothing more to be feared than, perhaps, a deer 
slipping silently out of sight. 

47 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


.Once they saw a big bear that they might 
easily have shot had they been out for that pur- 
pose, and Reuben quite grudged having to let 
him go in peace, for he had particularly fine fur. 

The farther north they pushed the more cau- 
tious they must needs be, and it was a positive 
relief to both when the shadows of night again 
fell around them without any appearance of 
their foes. 

“ We must be pretty close to the fort now,” 
said Seth as, having sought out the snuggest 
spot within reach, they settled down to spend 
another fireless night wrapped up in their blan- 
kets. '‘There don’t seem to be any of their 
scouts moving round. I wonder what they find 
to do with themselves? I guess it’s about as 
tiresome up there as it is down with us.” 

“You may be sure it is,” replied Reuben. 
“ This garrison duty is dull work for everybody. 
I’ll be very glad when the winter’s over, and 
things get moving again. What are you think- 
ing of doing in the morning, Seth ? ” 

“ Well, I just want to get a good look at Fort 
Ticonderoga, and if possible find out how big a 
garrison they have there,” Seth answered, and 
then after a little pause he added : “ If it be that 
the French have left only a handful of men in 
charge, it might be worth while our fellows 
coming up on their skates and attacking the 
place.” 


48 


OFF ON A SCOUT 


Reuben gave a whistle of mingled surprise and 
admiration at the audacity of the idea. 

“You’d want to know right well just how 
many there are in the fort, wouldn’t you?” he 
suggested. 

“Yes, of course I would, and that’s exactly 
what we must do our best to find out to-morrow 
morning.” 

The programme for the next day having thus 
been made clear, they talked together about 
other things until they fell asleep. 

At dawn they were astir, and now they must 
no longer trust to their skates, but make their 
way overland with utmost caution, lest at any 
moment a Canadian scout or Iroquois brave 
should be upon them from behind a tree. 

Seth had only a general idea of the position of 
that fort and its relation to the surrounding 
country; but he was a scout by instinct, and 
Reuben followed him with admiration and im- 
plicit obedience as he skilfully made his way 
through the thick forest, his object being to 
reach an elevation from which he could com- 
mand a clear view of Ticonderoga. 

Advancing slowly and with many detours the 
two daring youths at last accomplished their 
purpose without their presence being discov- 
ered or suspected by the enemy, shortly before 
midday gaining a point of view that was pre- 
cisely what they sought. 

4 49 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


They were on the high bluffs immediately op- 
posite Ticonderoga, from which they were sep- 
arated only by a narrow stretch of water, and, 
while keeping themselves perfectly concealed 
among the trees, they could see everything that 
was going on in and around the fort. 

“This is fine!” exclaimed Seth gleefully as 
he lay flat on the ground and fixed his gaze upon 
the enemy’s stronghold. “What would they 
think if they knew that we were up here watch- 
ing them ? I reckon they’d send a party after us 
pretty quick.” 

“ That they would,” said Reuben, with a pre- 
tence of a shiver, for he was not really in any 
fear, “ and they’d not deal any too gently with 
us either, would they ? ” 

“ No, sir,” responded Seth. “ That’s not their 
way, but they’re not going to have the chance if 
I can help it.” 

For several hours they remained in their eyrie, 
noting every movement at the fort, and carefully 
studying its position, so as to be able to give in- 
formation to those at Fort William as to the 
chances of an attack. 

They could see the garrison going about their 
duties, and from the number of them came to 
the conclusion that it would be folly to attempt 
an attack without a great many more men than 
could be spared from their own fort. 

“ But it wouldn’t be a hard place to take if 


OFF ON A SCOUT 


you went about it the right way and had a 
strong enough force, would it, Reuben?” said 
Seth after he had thoroughly surveyed the fort 
and its surroundings, and then he proceeded to 
outline a plan of attack that certainly did credit 
to his wits. 

Reuben listened approvingly to it all, and, 
when he had finished, mildly asked: 

“ How much longer shall we stay here, Seth? 
We’ve about seen all there is to see. Had we 
not better be starting back? ” 

“ To be sure we had,” replied Seth, whose en- 
thusiasm over the possibility of successfully at- 
tacking the fort had caused him to be oblivious 
of the flight of time. “ Come along; we mustn’t 
stay here any longer.” 

Just as they were about to start they saw a 
party set out from the fort on skates and speed 
away southward. 

“ Whew ! ” exclaimed Seth. “ I wonder what 
that means. Are they going off to do a little 
scouting on their own account? In that case 
we’ll have to keep a sharp look-out or we may 
fall into their hands.” 

There was certainly need for using the utmost 
precaution in their movements, and it was with 
a keener sense of danger than they had felt be- 
fore that the two New Englanders began their 
return journey. 

So long as they were concealed by the woods 
5i 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


they were safe enough from discovery, but once 
they took to the ice, which they must do as soon 
as possible, for their provisions were running 
low, and would not by any means last for a long 
journey overland, then they ran the risk of being 
sighted and pursued. 

But there was no help for it, and no time to 
be lost, so they urged their way through the 
forest until they reached the edge of the lake. 

Then with eager eyes and fast-beating pulses 
they scanned the glistening surface before them. 
Not a living thing was in view, but at any mo- 
ment from around one of the wooded points the 
enemy might appear. 

“ I wish I knew which side they’re on,” said 
Seth, the anxious expression of his countenance 
showing his state of mind. “ The farther away 
we can keep from them the better chance we’ll 
have, for I’m sure we can skate as fast or faster 
than any of them.” 

“ They’ll most likely be on the other side I 
should think,” responded Reuben ; “ so we had 
better keep to this one.” 

This seemed reasonable enough, so they put 
on all speed and dashed down the lake. 

The exhilarating motion restored their spirits, 
and confident of their ability to hold their own 
on skates against any of the enemy, they flew 
along over the smooth ice for mile after mile 
without encountering any cause for alarm until 
52 


OFF ON A SCOUT 


as they rounded a point beyond which was a 
deep cove, they saw something which sent their 
hearts into their mouths. 

It was the very party whose departure from 
Fort Ticonderoga they had witnessed, and it 
consisted of six Canadians on skates, who were 
just starting off again after having rested for a 
while in the snug shelter of the cove. 

They sighted the New Englanders at once, 
and with fierce cries, which sent a shiver through 
the two youths, began the chase. 

Happily their guns were not ready, for since 
Seth and Reuben were at first within range they 
would of course, have fired at them, but now 
they had to depend upon their skill and strength 
as skaters to effect the capture of the daring 
scouts. 

Straight southward darted the Colonials, their 
pursuers a couple of hundred yards in the rear, 
and following with grim determination. 

Seth and Reuben, although they fully realized 
the seriousness of the situation, felt no very 
great apprehension as to the outcome. They 
had entire confidence in their ability to more 
than hold their own while on the ice, and if they 
were compelled to take to the land, they did not 
doubt but that they could find a place of con- 
cealment until the danger was passed, or make 
their way through the forest with sufficient speed 
to distance pursuit. 


53 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


The two contingencies they had to fear were 
that in their rapid flight one or other might trip 
and fall, injuring himself or his skates, or that 
there might be another party of the enemy lower 
down the lake into whose hands they would be 
driven by those coming after them. 

Both these possibilities, so unpleasant to con- 
template, had presented themselves to Seth; 
but they did not daunt his brave spirit, nor did 
he mention them to Reuben, who no doubt had 
his own thoughts. 

The early dusk of mid-winter drew”on as mile 
after mile of the flawless ice was covered with- 
out the pursuers making any gain. By dint of 
frequent spurting the New Englanders might 
have widened the gap, and Reuben was anxious 
that they should do so ; but Seth thought differ- 
ently. 

So long as they kept out of range of the 
French it seemed to him best to reserve^their 
strength and wind, for at any moment the ap- 
pearance of Canadians in front might render 
necessary a supreme effort to evade them. 

If they should be thus caught between two 
parties, Seth’s mind was made up to fight to the 
last gasp, as he would rather die fighting his foe 
than be taken alive only to suffer death subse- 
quently by hideous torture. 

“ Thank God, it’s getting dark!” exclaimed 
Seth, breaking the silence which had lasted for 
54 


OFF ON A SCOUT 


some time. “ If we can keep on as we are now, 
we’ll be able to put ashore and hide ourselves 
among the trees.” 

“We can’t do it any too soon to suit me,” 
panted Reuben breathlessly, for the tremendous 
strain was beginning to tell upon him. “I’m 
tiring fast, and another couple of miles will finish 
me completely.” 

“Cheer up — cheer up, Reuben!” responded 
Seth, giving him an affectionate pat on the 
shoulder. “ They’re farther behind than they 
were, and we’ll soon be able to make a dash for 
the woods.” 


55 


CHAPTER VI 

ONE OF ROGERS’ RANGERS 

The approach of darkness stirred the Cana- 
dians to even greater efforts than they had hith- 
erto put forth, and after a furious spurt, which 
perceptibly decreased the distance between them 
and the fugitives, they halted for a moment to 
send a volley after them. 

Their intentions were of the best from their 
point of view, but happily they might as well 
have saved their ammunition, for what with 
being all out of breath themselves and conse- 
quently unable to take steady aim, while their 
moving targets called for no ordinary mark- 
manship, the bullets went “ zip, zip ! ” harmlessly 
past the New Englanders, ricochetting over the 
ice as if they were going on indefinitely. 

Seth laughed at the vain attempt to put a 
stop to their flight. 

“It would take better shots than they have in 
the French army to hit us at this distance,” he 
said, “and those fellows aren’t going to have 
another chance either, for we’ll get out of their 
sight right away. Come along, Reuben, we’ll 
take to the woods.” 

56 


ONE OF ROGERS’ RANGERS 


For some time they had been working toward 
shore, and now they were so near that a few 
more swift strokes served to bring them to land 
at a spot where the trees came close to the lake 
side. 

“ Here we are ! ” cried Seth in a tone of mani- 
fest relief. “ Off with ..your skates now, Reu- 
ben ; ” and he hastily unbuckled his own. 

“ Right glad I am to take them off,” said 
Reuben emphatically, “for I’m dead tired of 
them.” 

“ They’ve been our best friends notwithstand- 
ing,” responded Seth, “ and we’ll need them 
again before we get back to the fort.” 

Then, skates off, they dived into the thick 
forest, where the shadows were already deepen- 
ing, and with relief beyond expression realized 
that they were safe from further pursuit. 

The Canadians gave them a parting volley 
as they disappeared, and Seth, turning round, 
waved his cap at them derisively. 

“ Fooled this time ! ” he cried. “Try again ! ” 
And Reuben, whose spirits were restored by the 
passing away of immediate danger, laughed 
heartily at his impudence. 

They had landed on the west side of the lake, 
and so long as there was sufficient light left for 
them to pick their steps with any safety, they 
kept on southward. 

At last, however, the darkness grew too 
57 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


dense, and they too weary to go any farther, so 
they lay down to rest for the night, rejoicing at 
their escape, although every bone and muscle 
ached with fatigue. 

They were not disturbed in their slumbers, 
and, quite refreshed by them, set off at dawn, 
keeping to the woods for a time, but afterward 
returning to the ice where they judged they 
were safe. 

The rest of the return journey to the fort was 
free from excitement, and they had a hearty re- 
ception from their comrades, who were in con- 
siderable doubt as to whether they should ever 
see them again. 

The commander was greatly pleased at their 
exploit and at the information they brought back 
concerning what the French were doing at 
Ticonderoga. 

“ They are no doubt going to make a very 
strong place of it, and the longer they are left 
undisturbed the harder it will be to take it,” he 
said. “I must send word to General Johnson 
and urge him to make an attack if possible be- 
fore the winter is over.” 

Seth’s countenance lighted up at these words. 
From what he had seen, he had no doubt that 
with a moderately strong force the new strong- 
hold could be captured with all its garrison, and 
he keenly relished the prospect of having a share 
in the enterprise. 


5 * 


ONE OF ROGERS’ RANGERS 


But nothing was done after all, and the days 
dragged by as dully as before, until there ap- 
peared upon the scene one morning a man with 
whom Seth was henceforth to be very closely 
associated, and through whom he was to find 
the fullest outlet for his adventurous spirit. 

This was Robert Rogers, of New Hampshire, 
one of the most remarkable and picturesque 
personalities of his time, who rendered splendid 
service to the English in his own romantic way. 

His career had been a strange one. His boy- 
hood was spent amid the rough surroundings of 
a frontier village. Growing to manhood, he 
engaged in some occupation which led him to 
frequent journeyings in the wilderness between 
the French and English settlements, and these 
gave him a good knowledge of both. It also 
taught him to speak French. Just what the 
mysterious business was is not precisely known, 
but in all probability it was a smuggling trade 
with Canada, the dangers and profits of which 
alike attracted his daring spirit. 

For some time previous to his appearance at 
Fort William Henry he had been actively em- 
ployed on a series of excursions into the enemy’s 
territory, which he had conducted with such ex- 
traordinary skill and uniform success as to earn 
for himself a great reputation, and Rogers’ Ran- 
gers, as his men, chiefly New Hampshire bor- 
derers, were called, had come to be more feared 
59 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


by the French than any other part of the pro- 
vincial force. 

Seth had heard so much about him that he 
had become a veritable hero in his mind, and 
he had quite determined at the first opportunity 
to offer himself as a recruit to his company. 

His joy may be readily imagined, therefore, 
when the dull routine of the day was broken in 
upon by the unexpected approach of a band of 
men whose whole appearance was so striking 
that he at once realized that they were no other 
than the famous Rogers’ Rangers. 

“ Look, Reuben ! ” he cried to his friend as 
they stood together on the rude ramparts, whence 
they had been somewhat disconsolately gazing 
toward the lake, and wishing that some French 
or Indians would come into sight by way of 
variety. “ See what’s coming ; I am sure that’s 
Rogers and his Rangers. How glad I am! 
I’ve been waiting to see them this long time ! ” 

The party comprised not more than fifty. 
They wore a curious sort of woodland uniform 
appropriate to their methods of operation, and 
their well-tanned countenances showed plainly 
enough how much of their life was spent away 
from the shelter of a roof. 

“ Fine-looking fellows, aren’t they?” Seth ex- 
claimed admiringly, as the newcomers passed 
through the gate of the fort with quick, steady 

step, and then came to a halt before the com- 
60 


ONE OF ROGERS’ RANGERS 


mander, while their leader stepped forward to 
pay his respects and present his communication. 

Major Rogers certainly was a man who could 
not fail to command attention in any company. 
In figure he was tall and well knit, every move- 
ment manifesting strength and agile ease. With 
the exception of his nose, which, as is often 
the case in people of particularly vigorous char- 
acter, was disproportionately big, his features 
were good, and he had a clear, bold eye, that 
expressed his daring spirit, while it took in 
everything within the range of vision. 

Ambitious and determined, by no means un- 
educated, and so skilled in woodcraft as to be a 
match for the subtlest Indian, he possessed 
every qualification for the especially perilous 
but important work he had entered into so 
heartily, and there was not a part of the provin- 
cial force which could have been less easily done 
without than his battalion of Rangers. 

Great was the satisfaction at Fort William 
when Major Rogers announced that he had 
come by the orders of General Johnson to take 
up his quarters there for the present and to de- 
vote himself to the task of keeping as close a 
watch as possible upon the operations of the 
enemy at Ticonderoga and Crown Point. 

From Commander Glasier down every mem- 
ber of the garrison did his best to show his hos- 
pitality, and they indulged in a general carouse 
61 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


that night which would have given the French 
a fine opportunity to storm the fort if they had 
only been aware of the condition of their foes. 

Seth lost no time in making up to Major 
Rogers. It was not his way to let the grass 
grow under his feet, and accordingly the first 
chance he saw of a word with the great man 
alone he seized the opportunity. 

Now it happened that the occasion was not an 
altogether propitious one, because the major, 
having drunk rather deeply the previous night, 
and told stories, and sung songs until the small 
hours, as a natural consequence felt somewhat 
out of sorts — in fact, like a bear with a sore head. 

Consequently when Seth, approaching him, 
said in a modest enough tone : 

“ I am Seth Allen from Massachusetts, sir, 
and I would like to speak with you for a few 
moments.” 

The Major, fixing upon him his penetrating 
glance, and seeing what a mere youth he was 
despite his stalwart frame, replied gruffly: 

“Well, young man, and what do you want of 
me?” 

The manifest ill-humor of the tone brought 
the color to Seth’s cheeks ; but he was not to 
be checked by it, and he came at once to the 
point by responding: 

“ I want to join your Rangers, sir.” 

The famous scout looked him over from head 

62 


ONE OF ROGERS' RANGERS 


to foot and then broke into a laugh that was so 
clearly contemptuous as to make Seth thrill with 
indignation, although he strove not to show it 
in his countenance. 

“You want to join my Rangers, eh? And 
what good would such a youngster as you be to 
me ? I want only men who can stand anything 
and are not afraid of anything." 

Seth was too eager to gain his end to allow 
his temper to stand in his way, and so keeping 
himself under control he asked quietly : 

“ May I tell you what I did last month?" 

There was something so firm yet respectful in 
his tone and prepossessing in his appearance 
that the Major began to relent a little, and to 
feel that he was hardly giving the young fellow 
fair treatment, so in a much milder way he an- 
swered : 

“Very well, I’ll listen. Come over here and 
we’ll sit down," and he led the way to a shel- 
tered corner of the fort. 

When they were seated, Seth told about his 
scouting expedition with Reuben and what they 
had observed, and then, encouraged by the at- 
tention with which his narration was received, 
went on to express his own views as to what 
might be done if only the provincial authorities 
would act quickly and not wait until the French 
had made their position so strong that it would 

be out of the question to overcome them. 

63 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


As he talked in his simple, frank way, Rogers 
was studying intently not only his face but his 
form, and from the different expression which 
gradually stole over his strong, stern features, 
it might be judged that he was being moved to 
change his mind concerning the speaker. 

He listened in silence save for an occasional 
sharp query that went to the mark like a well- 
aimed arrow, and when Seth had finished seemed 
to be lost in reflection for so long a space that 
Seth began to get apprehensive as to the result 
of the interview. 

At length, fixing his piercing eyes upon the 
New Englander, he asked him in a voice so 
deep that it sounded hardly human : 

“ Is everything you have just told me the sim- 
ple truth, or have you made up some of it? ” 

The flush deepened upon Seth’s cheek and 
mounted to the roots of his hair. For one 
whose nature was so perfectly straightforward to 
be suspected of falsehood could not fail to hurt, 
and it made him wince ; but he did his best to 
hide the fact, yet his tone was not altogether free 
from a touch of feeling as he replied : 

“The simple truth, sir. I have made up 
nothing.” 

“Then, young man, you’ll do!” exclaimed 
Rogers, with a sudden energy that made him 
start. “You’re just what I want for my Ran- 
gers.” And so saying, he gave him a heavy clap 

64 



“THE SIMPLE TRUTH, sir! I HAVE MADE UP NOTHING.” 

















































































































ONE OF ROGERS’ RANGERS 


on the back with his big hand by way of em- 
phasizing his decision. 

“Oh, I’m so glad!” cried Seth, springing to 
his feet, and fairly dancing in his delight. “ I’m 
sick to death of poking about this fort doing 
nothing.” 

“Well, I reckon you won’t have much chance 
to complain of that while you work for me,” said 
Rogers dryly, and thus the matter was settled. 

Seth’s outfit of weapons was so complete that 
it needed no additions, and his dress required 
but little alteration to make it sufficiently similar 
to that of the Rangers. 

His reception by his new associates was not 
unanimously cordial. Some of the older ones 
rather resented his being so young, and did not 
hesitate to find fault with the Major’s judgment; 
but other were more kindly disposed, and made 
Seth welcome in their own hearty fashion. 

The coming of the Rangers and the thrilling 
stories they had to tell of their perilous experi- 
ences proved a great boon to the garrison, and 
they were in no hurry to have them set off again. 
They were consequently well pleased when it was 
decided that the Rangers should make Fort Wil- 
liam Henry their headquarters for the present. 

No sooner had he been made a Ranger than 
Seth began to long for an outing with them, but 
it was not until the middle of January that the 
opportunity came. 

5 


65 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


Then to his joy Major Rogers selected him 
as one of a party of seventeen to reconnoitre the 
French forts. 

They set out on skates, and made such good 
speed that ere night fell they had reached the 
part of the lake where it narrows greatly before 
joining its waters with those of Lake Champlain. 

Here they halted for some hours in order to 
rest and eat, and then, in spite of the darkness, 
which troubled them little, for they seemed to be 
able to find their way through it without diffi- 
culty, they made a detour around Fort Ticon- 
deroga, and went into ambush by the forest road 
connecting it with Crown Point. 

Here with guns ready for instant use they 
waited to see what might pass along the road. 


66 


CHAPTER VII 


REUBEN GETS INTO THE RANGERS ALSO 

They did not have to wait long, for soon after 
sunrise two sledges, heavily laden with fresh 
beef, came into view, their drivers singing gayly 
in utter unconsciousness of the proximity of the 
enemy. They could easily have been shot as 
they sat on their sledges, but Rogers had other 
designs. He wanted them as prisoners for the 
sake of the information that might be extracted 
from them. So, at his command the Rangers 
suddenly showed themselves with levelled mus- 
kets, while their leader called to the drivers to 
stop. 

The consternation of the latter was amusing 
to witness. They nearly fell off their seats, and 
made not the slightest attempt either at defend- 
ing themselves or effecting their escape. 

Seth, who had a keen sense of humor, thought 
their conduct highly diverting, and was one of 
the first to reach the sledges. 

The poor fellows, when they realized into 
whose hands they had fallen, gave themselves 
up for lost. They evidently expected nothing 
else than to be killed at once, or to be reserved 
67 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


for dreadful torture, and as Major Rogers him- 
self was the only one of their captors who under- 
stood their language, their passionate pleading 
for mercy evoked no response from the others 
and intensified their terror. 

Rogers regarded them grimly in silence for a 
time, and then gave orders that their hands 
should be tied behind their backs and that the 
beef they were in charge of be destroyed. 

The Rangers would have been glad enough 
to keep the meat, which would have afforded a 
welcome variety in their monotonous diet at the 
fort ; but it was out of the question for them to 
hamper themselves with it, as having accom- 
plished the object of their expedition in the 
capture of two of the enemy, they must make 
all haste back to their own headquarters. 

On being questioned by Rogers, the captured 
drivers told readily enough all they knew about 
the condition of things at Ticonderoga and 
Crown Point and the plans of the French for 
the future, and the information they gave was 
of such value that Major Rogers felt thoroughly 
satisfied with the result of the outing. 

The command was given to return to Fort 
William Henry, which they reached in the even- 
ing of the third day without further incident. 

Now, Reuben Thayer was no less anxious to 
be admitted into the ranks of the Rangers than 
Seth had been, and, having failed to gain his 
68 


REUBEN GETS INTO THE RANGERS 


point by direct application, he begged Seth to 
speak for him. 

Seth shrank from doing so, because the Major 
was not easily approached, and had a gruff way 
with him; but at last, yielding to his friend’s 
importunities, he made the venture. 

He chose what he trusted would be an auspi- 
cious time — to wit, when the great man was en- 
joying his evening pipe after a hard day’s tramp 
through the woods in quest of game, and with a 
degree of hesitation that was in itself a compli- 
ment, as indicating a fitting sense of the import- 
ance of the man he addressed, he said : 

“ Major Rogers, I have a favor to ask you.” 

“ Have you, indeed?” answered the Major 
none too cordially, and evidently grudging the 
necessity of removing his pipe from his lips in 
order to speak. “ What is it ? Out with it, and 
don’t stand there looking at me as if I were a 
wild cat or something ! ” 

Poor Seth winced at this rough response, and 
found it harder than before to get out what he 
wanted to say, but he managed to stammer 
out: 

“ Reuben Thayer, sir, my friend, you know.” 

“ No; I don’t know your friend Reuben,” re- 
torted the Major impatiently. “ But what about 
him? Explain yourself.” 

“If you please, sir, he wants to be one of 
your Rangers,” Seth hastened to reply, devoutly 

69 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


wishing that he had not undertaken the matter 
at all. 

“ Oh, he does, does he?” snorted the Major 
scornfully. “ How good of him! And what if 
I don’t want him? Who is he anyway, and 
what does he know about scouting? ” 

“ Why, sir, he was with me that time I got so 
near Ticonderoga, and saw what they were do- 
ing there,” Seth replied, with a sudden access 
of spirit, for Rogers’ contemptuous way of 
speaking of his friend rather nettled him. 

“ Oh, ho ! was he, indeed ? ” exclaimed the 
Major in a somewhat changed tone. ‘‘That 
makes a difference.” Then, fixing his penetrat- 
ing glance upon Seth, while a slight curve 
softened the severe outline of his lips, he de- 
manded : “ Do you think he’s got as good stuff 
in him as you have, and that he’d be any use 
to me ? ” 

Seth, now master of himself, felt free to smile 
back at the stern-visaged scout, who, he knew, 
was simply twitting him, and to respond in the 
same vein : 

“ If you’ll only try him, sir, you’ll find that 
he’s better than I am, may be.” 

“Well, well, we’ll see, we’ll see,” said the 
Major, resuming his pipe, and Seth, taking this 
as a sign that the interview was closed, went 
away to report to Reuben. 

“And what do you think he’ll do, Seth?” in- 
70 


REUBEN GETS INTO THE RANGERS 


quired Reuben anxiously. “Will he let me 
join ? ” 

“ I’m not quite sure, Reuben,” was Seth’s re- 
ply. “But I hope so. You’ll just have to be 
patient.” 

The days slipped by without the Major tak- 
ing any particular notice of Reuben, and the 
poor fellow was about resigning himself to dis- 
appointment when an incident occurred that 
brought about the fulfilment of his desire in an 
unexpected manner. 

The English by no means had a monopoly of 
the scouting. The French on their part were 
hardly less active and venturesome, their Indian 
allies being particularly enterprising, and fre- 
quently making their way into the neighborhood 
of Fort William Henry, so that the members of 
the garrison had to keep a constant lookout for 
the merciless “ hair-dressers,” as they were face- 
tiously called by their employers in allusion to 
their partiality for scalps. 

When not out on one of his prolonged ex- 
peditions, Major Rogers, who could not keep 
still by any chance, was wont to spend the 
day roaming through the adjacent woods, some- 
times in quest of game, and sometimes on the 
chance of lighting upon an Iroquois scout, and 
either taking him prisoner or putting an end to 
his activities. 

In these outings he usually went alone, having 
7 1 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


perfect confidence in his ability to take care of 
himself, and being of a disposition that did not 
need the constant companionship of his fellow- 
men. 

One day late in January he had gone out to 
amuse himself in his accustomed way, and as it 
happened Seth and Reuben, whose friendship 
strengthened as the weeks went by, were also 
in the woods, hoping to bag a few partridges 
to vary their monotonous diet of bacon and 
peas. 

In this they had fair success, and, having ven- 
tured as far from the fort as they thought wise, 
were on their way back when they caught sight 
of Major Rogers at a little distance. 

“See, there’s the Major!” exclaimed Reuben, 
catching his companion’s arm and pointing out 
the tall form of the scout half hidden among the 
trees. “ I wonder if he’s after partridges too, 
and if he has had any better luck than we. 
Shall we call to him?” 

“ No, indeed,” replied Seth emphatically. 
“ He does not want our company. He prefers 
his own.” 

“ Then let us see if we can keep him in sight 
for a while without his seeing us,” suggested 
Reuben. 

“All right,” responded Seth, to whom the 
idea seemed a capital one, and accordingly they 
proceeded to stalk the Major, who, all uncon- 
7 2 


REUBEN GETS INTO THE RANGERS 


scious of their proximity, was entirely absorbed 
in his own thoughts. 

Taking the utmost care not to betray them- 
selves, they followed him for some distance, 
having no more definite purpose than simply to 
see if they could do so without being discov- 
ered, and were quite enjoying the joke of it 
when Reuben gave a sudden start, and, pulling 
Seth down to the ground beside him, whispered 
in his ear: 

“ I see Indians ! They’re just over there, and 
Major Rogers is going right toward them.” 

“ Where? Where?” asked Seth excitedly. 
“ Show them to me ! ” 

Reuben pointed off to the right of where they 
lay, and Seth, fixing his eyes upon the spot, was 
able to make out the dark forms of at least two 
Indians crouching among the trees with the evi- 
dent design of ambushing the Major. 

For the moment he knew not what to do — 
whether to warn the Major, or to try a long shot at 
the Indians, and while he hesitated Reuben acted. 

Springing to his feet in entire disregard of the 
danger he ran by thus exposing himself, he 
shouted : 

“ Down, sir, down ! The Indians ! ” 

His voice rang out amid the stillness of the 
forest with the clearness of a trumpet call, and 
the veteran scout, without pausing an instant to 
ascertain whence it came, and where the danger 
73 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


warned against lay, instantly threw himself flat 
upon the ground. 

It was well for him he did. The sudden action 
certainly saved his life, for close upon Reuben’s 
timely shout came the report of a gun, and a 
bullet whistled viciously past the very spot 
where the Major had been standing. 

Like an echo another report followed the first. 
It was from the gun of Seth, who had been 
watching intently the movements of the In- 
dians, and the moment the latter exposed them- 
selves in their anxiety to kill Major Rogers he 
aimed and pulled trigger. 

Although so quickly done as to be really 
nothing more than a snapshot, a piercing yell 
told that the deadly missile had reached its 
mark, and Seth chuckled as he hastened to re- 
load, saying complacently: 

“That settles one of them. Now for the 
other.” 

But the second Iroquois evidently had no 
idea of sharing the fate of his companion. 
More like a shadow than a creature of flesh and 
blood he stole through the underbrush, Reuben 
just managing to catch a glimpse of him as he 
vanished over the top of a ridge, and he called 
to the still prostrate Major: 

“ It’s all right now, sir. One Indian is shot, 
and the other’s run away.” 

With feelings somewhat divided between re- 
74 


REUBEN GETS INTO THE RANGERS 


lief at his escape from an ignominious death, and 
irritation at the undignified attitude he had been 
compelled to assume in order to save himself, 
Major Rogers got up, and stood gazing in grim 
silence at the young men who had hastened 
toward him, eager to be assured that he had 
suffered no harm. 

His stern look checked the words that were 
on their lips, and when they had come within a 
few yards of him, they halted in some confusion, 
the Major’s reception of them was so entirely 
different from what under the circumstances 
they were expecting. 

For an appreciable, and so far as the two 
friends were concerned, quite embarrassing in- 
terval they stood thus looking at each other, and 
then Major Rogers spoke. 

“ Who was it saw the Indians first and gave 
me warning? ” he asked in as severe a tone as if 
he were questioning a criminal. 

“ It was I, sir,” meekly responded Reuben. 

“Ah! And you’re the youth that wants to 
join my company?” continued the Major, the 
hardness of his tone slightly relaxing. “ Then 

” and here he paused, so that his words 

might have full effect — “you may consider 
yourself a member. Y ou have done me a serv- 
ice that I shall be in no hurry to forget,” and 
having thus delivered himself, he strode off in 
the direction of Fort William. 

75 


CHAPTER VIII 

OFF TO CROWN POINT 

It was with happy hearts that Seth and Reu- 
ben followed Major Rogers. Reuben rejoiced 
in having his great desire gratified, while Seth 
not only shared in his friend’s joy, but was glad 
on his own account, because they would not 
now be separated, but could serve side by side 
against the enemy. 

“ I hope the Major will soon be starting out 
again,” said Reuben, “and will take us both 
with him. I’m just longing to be off on a scout, 
ain’t you, Seth? ” 

“ Indeed I am,” answered Seth. “ It’s so tire- 
some hanging around the fort. If the French 
or the Indians would only have a try at us now 
and then, I’d like it better.” 

This being their frame of mind, the delight 
with which they heard that Colonel Glasier had 
given instruction to Major Rogers to make as 
thorough as possible an examination of the 
strength of the enemy at Crown Point and the 
fortifications they were constructing there may 
be readily understood, and also how anxious 
they were to find out whether or not they would 
form part of the scouting party. 

76 


OFF TO CROWN POINT 


Upon this point they were kept in uncertainty 
until a short time before the Rangers were to 
set out, and they had almost resigned themselves 
to being left behind when to their vast relief the 
Major sent for them, and in his abrupt way 
commanded them to be ready to start in half an 
hour. 

They had no trouble, in obeying the order, 
and at the appointed time the scouting party, 
numbering fifty in all, marched away from the 
fort, every man in the best of spirits and ready 
for any adventure or danger that might be en- 
countered. 

At this time of year the bosom of the lake 
was so covered with snow that it was not pos- 
sible to skate, and they took snowshoes instead, 
carrying them strapped upon their backs until 
they should be needed. Every one of Rogers’ 
Rangers was almost as expert in the use of the 
snowshoes as were the Canadians, from whom 
they had learned their value, and Seth and Reu- 
ben were very glad that they had made them- 
selves proficient in the art of the raquette dur- 
ing the days of inaction at the fort when they 
found they could keep their places in the swiftly 
moving party without any difficulty. 

The route chosen by Major Rogers lay well 
to the west of Lake George, and for the first 
day the Rangers kept together, as there was 
slight chance of meeting with any of the enemy. 

77 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


But on the following days more precautions 
against being ambushed were taken, the com- 
pany breaking up into detachments., which fol- 
lowed one another at a little distance, the whole 
party reuniting at mid-day and at sundown. 

By this shrewd arrangement the risk of them 
all falling into the hands of the enemy was 
greatly reduced, as those in the lead could give 
warning to those in the rear, and, though they 
might suffer themselves, enable their comrades to 
beat a retreat if the odds were all against them, 
or dash forward to the support of the vanguard 
if there was anything like equal terms to be 
had. 

Advancing thus, they made their way undis- 
covered and unopposed through the trackless 
forest, startling the wild beasts from their lairs, 
and flushing many a covey of plump partridges, 
which strongly tempted them to use their guns ; 
but their leader had sternly forbidden the firing 
of a shot except at the enemy. He was not 
going to have his presence betrayed for the sake 
of a bit of game. 

Seth and Reuben managed to keep together 
and yet to extend their acquaintance among the 
members of the band. For the most part they 
found them congenial companions, although all 
were their seniors in age as well as in service, 
and the gatherings around the campfire at night, 
when pipes were out and stories swapped, were 
78 


OFF TO CROWN POINT 


very pleasant after the long day’s tramping 
over rough ground. 

At length, seven days after setting out from 
the fort, they arrived within a mile of Crown 
Point, and, having concealed themselves in a 
thickly wooded hollow, where they were open 
to attack from only one direction, they awaited 
the further direction of their commander. 

Every man fully realized the peril of the situ- 
ation, and yet they were all in the highest spirits. 

“ I wonder how long it will take the French 
to find out we are so near them,” said Seth to 
Reuben, with a smile of unconcern. “What 
wouldn’t they give to know just where we are! 
I suppose they’d see how soon they could sur- 
round us and take us all prisoners.” 

“ That would be their game most likely,” re- 
sponded Reuben, no less lightly ; “ but they’re 
not going to do it all the same. The Major 
knows too much to be caught like a rat in a 
trap.” 

While the main body remained in the hol- 
low, scouts were kept on all sides to give warn- 
ing if the enemy should appear, and in the 
mean while Major Rogers, accompanied by a 
couple of his most trusted Rangers, ventured to 
ascend a very steep mountain, from the summit 
of which they could obtain a clear and full view 
of the fortification at Crown Point and of the 
surrounding country. 


79 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


The Major was highly pleased at gaining this 
point of view without being discovered. 

“ Ah, ha!” he chuckled, as lying down upon 
his stomach, he peered over the peak and saw 
the whole place spread out before him like a 
map, with the French soldiers and the Cana- 
dians working away as busily as beavers, while 
the Indians loafed lazily about, or sat curled up 
in their blankets, as if they were quite above 
mere manual labor. 

“ Wouldn’t it give our French friends a start 
if they knew we were watching them? And 
what a fine fort they are building, to be sure ! 
I must make a plan of it to send to General 
Johnson. It’s clear to me the place can’t be at- 
tacked too soon. The longer it’s left the harder 
nut it will be to crack. I must make the Gen- 
eral understand that,” and he shook his head in 
the decisive way that was characteristic of him. 

The position of the Rangers exposed them to 
the full power of the wind and cold, but Major 
Rogers proceeded to make his plan of the forti- 
fication as calmly as if he were in a comfortable 
room, and did not stop until he had, in a rather 
rough yet quite intelligible fashion, completed a 
sketch that would be of great value in the event 
of an assault being made by the provincial forces 
in the future. 

The rest of the Rangers “ lay low ” in their 

snug hiding-place, while their leader was in the 
80 


OFF TO CROWN POINT 


mountain-top, but so soon as he returned they 
all moved out and made their way toward a little 
village situated about half a mile from the fort. 

Here, just before night fell, they went into 
ambush, one-half the party taking their position 
on each side of the road connecting the village 
with the fort, and settling down for the night as 
best they could on the snow-covered ground. 

Seth and Reuben curled up as close to each 
other as possible for mutual warmth, and feel- 
ing it impossible to sleep on account of the cold, 
talked through the long hours of darkness. 

With the first break of day the Rangers were 
all awake and astir, staying their hunger with 
such scanty fare as their nearly depleted knap- 
sacks provided, and seeing to it that their guns 
were ready for instant use. 

“ Do not fire if you can help it, but make 
prisoners of whoever comes along the road,” was 
the Major’s command, and with their nerves 
strung up to the highest pitch of excitement 
they waited for victims. 

Presently a Frenchman came into sight from 
the direction of the fort, sauntering along in 
blissful ignorance of danger. 

He was allowed to go unchallenged until well 
into the ambush, and then Major Rogers, with- 
out permitting himself to be seen, called out in 
his deep gruff voice : 

“ Arretez ! ” 

6 Si 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


The soldier jumped as if he had been shot at 
this startling interruption of his morning walk 
and came to an instant stop, while with bulging 
eyes he stared in the direction whence the sound 
had come. 

In order to make sure that the man was alone 
Major Rogers kept himself and his men hidden 
for a few minutes longer, and then, when he was 
satisfied on that point, ordered Seth to go for- 
ward and seize the Frenchman. 

On the latter perceiving only a youth coming 
toward him he regained his courage somewhat, 
and showed signs of resisting, but the stern 
voice of the Major bid him not be a fool, and 
the next instant the forms of fifty armed men 
appeared on either side of the road. 

This sight so terrified the poor fellow that he 
dropped upon his knees and in his own tongue 
begged for mercy so piteously that Seth as he 
laid hold of him was moved to say : 

“ Don’t be so scared. We’re not going to kill 
you. We’re just taking you prisoner.” 

The soldier could not understand his words, 
but he could the tone in which they were ut- 
tered, and, looking into the face of his captor, he 
said something which Seth on his part failed to 
comprehend, but which really was a passionate 
promise to do whatever they wanted of him if 
only they would spare his life. 

“ Bring him in here out of sight and don’t 

82 


OFF TO CROWN POINT 


stand there palavering, ” roared the Major, and 
Seth, whose attention had for the moment been 
diverted by the Frenchman’s flutterings, laid 
hold of him by the shoulder and pushed him off 
the road into the trees, where he was promptly 
bound and gagged so that he could not give 
them any trouble. 

“That’s one fish caught,” said the Major 
grimly. “ We’ll see if we can’t land some more 
before the place gets too hot for us.” 

For the next hour no sign of life showed upon 
the road, and the Rangers began to grow rest- 
less, as was natural enough, considering that 
they were in so close proximity to the enemy, 
who might at any time come out against them 
in such force that they could not hope to offer 
any opposition, but must seek safety in flight. 

At length, just when one of the Rangers had 
been sent across the road by Major Rogers with 
a message for those on the other side, two more 
Frenchmen appeared walking rapidly, as if upon 
an important mission. 

“ Look sharp now and nab those two fel- 
lows ! ” called the Major to his men, but before 
they could obey the order the Frenchmen had 
caught sight of the Ranger crossing the road. 

Instantly they saw their danger, and, turning 
upon their heels, started on the full run back to 
the fort. 

“ Catch them ! Catch the scoundrels ! ” roared 
83 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


the Major, furious at the possibility of their 
escaping him, and half a score of the Rangers set 
off in pursuit, Seth and Reuben being among 
the number. 

But good runners though they were, the fugi- 
tives were also fleet of foot, and, moreover, they 
had the advantage of a considerable start, and 
thus they managed to keep out of reach of their 
pursuers (who did not dare use their guns, as 
the report would be heard at Crown Point), un- 
til they got so near the fort that the Rangers 
were fain to abandon the chase lest they them- 
selves should be ambushed and cut off from 
their companions. 

Accordingly, much chagrined, they hastened 
back to where Major Rogers awaited them with 
a face like a thundercloud. 

“ So you let them get away from you, eh ? ” he 
growled. “ You’re no better than cows to run. 
You’d better practise up your running.” 

“We’ll leave that to the Frenchies, Major,” 
responded Lieutenant Stark brightly. “ We 
don’t want to know how to run, but to stand 
and fight.” 

Instead of being incensed at this courageous 
sally, the Major allowed a suspicion of a smile 
to lighten the gloom of his countenance, and 
with a decided change of tone said : 

“That’s all right, Stark, as a general thing; 
but I reckon we’ll show more sense by doing a 


OFF TO CROWN POINT 


little running ourselves just now than by stay- 
ing here. Those two Frenchies will soon have 
the whole garrison out after us.” 

There was no gainsaying the soundness of 
this, and so without more ado the whole body 
of Rangers beat a retreat into the depths of the 
forest, to remain there hidden until they could 
be sure that they were not being hunted for by 
the garrison of Crown Point. 


85 


CHAPTER IX 


DOING DAMAGE TO THE ENEMY 

Although Major Rogers had entirely suc- 
ceeded in the chief purpose of his expedition, 
namely, to obtain a full understanding of what 
the French were about at Crown Point, and had, 
moreover, captured one of their soldiers, who 
was quite ready to tell all he knew, provided his 
life was spared, he was not content to return to 
Fort William Henry without leaving behind 
evidence of his visit that would make it remem- 
bered by the enemy. Accordingly, after what 
he deemed a sufficient period of lying low, he 
said to his men : 

“ If I’m not mistaken there’s a good store of 
grain in that village, which, as we can’t take it 
away with us, we’ll have to burn up so that the 
Frenchies and their friends won’t have it to de- 
pend upon, and we might kill off a few of their 
cattle, too. They mustn’t be allowed to live too 
well here or they’ll be too anxious to stay.” 

The Rangers laughed at their leader’s way of 
putting things, and replied that they were ready 
to do whatever he had in mind. 

“ Let us take a good look at the village, then, 
86 


DOING DAMAGE TO THE ENEMY 


and see where it’s best to begin,” said the 
Major. 

Breaking up into parties of ten, they ad- 
vanced upon the village from different direc- 
tions, and at sight of them the terrified inhabi- 
tants fled to their houses, in which they shut 
themselves without any thought of offering re- 
sistance. 

“ I hope we won’t have to set the houses on 
fire,” whispered Seth to Reuben as they drew 
near a rude dwelling, which he judged sheltered 
women and children. “ I don’t mind how many 
barns we burn, but I don’t want to have a hand 
in hurting the poor people.” 

“ Oh, surely Major Rogers won’t do anything 
to them ! ” Reuben exclaimed under his breath. 
“ We’re not Indians.” 

They had no need to be anxious upon this 
score, however, for the Major, while merciless 
enough in his methods where it seemed neces- 
sary to be so, had no thought of following the 
shocking example set by the French in their 
harrying of the borders. He waged war against 
men, not against women and children. 

But as much damage as possible had to be 
done, so the torch was applied to the barns, and 
the cattle were killed in the yards, and when the 
Rangers departed they left that part of the vil- 
lage in flames. 

“ What can the garrison of the fort be about 
87 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


that they haven’t come after us? ” queried Reu- 
ben naturally enough, when at last they turned 
their faces homeward ; but no one could answer 
him. Whatever was the reason, whether they 
imagined the invaders to be in much greater 
force than they were, or whether they had no 
stomach to try a brush with them in the forest, 
certainly the French kept within their own de- 
fences and allowed the daring Rangers to go 
away unchallenged and unscathed, leaving the 
burning village as a hint of what they would 
do to Crown Point itself at the first oppor- 
tunity. 

Just ten days after they had set out they were 
back at Fort William Henry, whose commander 
warmly praised their leader for the success of 
his undertaking and the exceedingly important 
information he had secured. 

A period of quiet followed, during which the 
garrison made shift to while away the time with 
such sports as were possible in mid-winter. 
They had snow fights, and snowshoe races, and 
they practised shooting at a mark, and they had 
wrestling matches, and whatever other amuse- 
ments could be devised for either outdoor or in- 
doors. 

Into all this Seth entered with keen zest, and 
being so active and agile of both brain and body, 
rather more than held his own with the majority 

of his associates, which fact did not pass unno- 
88 


DOING DAMAGE TO THE ENEMY 


ticed by the all-observant Major, and no doubt 
had much to do with the pleasant surprise that 
he gave him when he sent for him one morning 
in March. 

Seth found the Major in his room with a let- 
ter before him, from which he lifted his eyes to 
look him over with a searching glance that gave 
Seth a nervous feeling, and caused him to won- 
der in his mind what was on the carpet. 

“ Have you ever been to Boston, young man ? ” 
he was asked in a tone that afforded no hint of 
the purpose of the question. 

“ No, sir,” replied Seth, “ I have not.” 

“ How would you like to go there? ” was the 
next question. 

Now to a frontier lad, who had never set foot 
in a city of any size, Boston naturally loomed 
very large and wonderful, and the idea of seeing 
it for himself could not be otherwise than highly 
attractive, so that it was without hesitation Seth 
answered : 

“ Why, very much indeed, sir. Do you want 
to send me there ? ” 

“ I don’t want to send you, but I have some 
notion of taking you,” the Major responded in 
his brusk way, and then went on to say that 
the letter in his hand was from General Shirley, 
Commander-in-Chief of the King’s forces . in 
North America, who was at Boston making 
preparations for the ensuing campaign, and had 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


desired Major Rogers to wait upon him at Bos- 
ton to receive his instructions. 

Seth listened with eager ears. To have the 
trip to Boston, and there to see not only the 
famous city, but the great General, under whose 
command the war would be carried on, this cer- 
tainly was an opportunity such as he had not 
dreamed of, and his heart beat quickly as he 
waited for the Major’s definite instructions. 
When they came, they were characteristically 
brief and to the point. 

“ I’ll take you with me,” he said. “ You can 
be of use to me. We’ll start this afternoon. 
Get your things packed and be ready right after 
dinner.” 

In great glee Seth hurried off to tell the good 
news to Reuben, who warmly congratulated him 
upon his good luck, while he frankly expressed 
his envy. 

“ I’ve been wanting to go to Boston for ever 
so long too. I wonder when my chance will 
come,” he said ruefully. “You seem always to 
get the good things first.” 

“ Oh ! your turn will come all right ! ” re- 
sponded Seth, patting him on the back. “ We’ll 
go to Boston together some fine day, see if we 
don’t.” 

The summons of Major Rogers to the pres- 
ence of the Commander-in-Chief aroused much 
curiosity at the fort, and many were the conjec- 
99 


DOING DAMAGE TO THE ENEMY 


tures as to what it meant, but if the veteran 
Ranger had any idea of his own he shrewdly 
kept it to himself. 

They set out early in the afternoon, directing 
their course for Albany, on the Hudson River, 
and as the danger of being attacked by Indians 
in league with the French had to be considered, 
Major Rogers deemed it prudent to have ten of 
his Rangers accompany them that far, and then 
return to Fort William Henry. 

To Seth, whose experience of the world was 
so slight, even Albany, then little more than a 
thriving town, was a revelation, and he would 
have been glad to spend some days there seeing 
the sights and getting acquainted with the peo- 
ple, but the Major was not the man to dally by 
the way. To him Albany was of slight conse- 
quence. Boston filled his mind, and if there 
had been any lightning express trains in that 
day as there are now connecting the two cities, 
he certainly would have taken the first one leav- 
ing the railway station. 

But there was nothing better then than the 
lumbering stage coach, that jolted its slow way 
over the New Connecticut Road, as it was 
called, which wound its somewhat devious course 
from Albany to Boston. 

“ Confound the old rattle-trap ! ” growled the 
short-tempered Major as the heavy coach swayed 
and pitched over the rough coach road. “ I wish 
91 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


we had taken horse. We’d save time and have 
more comfort.” 

Seth, however, although he was too discrc 2t 
to say so, did not at all agree with his chief. It 
was his first long ride in a stage coach, and it 
gratified a desire cherished from his earliest boy- 
hood, and even if the vehicle was clumsy and 
the roads were rough, he was enjoying himself 
in no small degree. 

From Albany to Springfield, thence to Brook- 
field, and so by Worcester and Marlborough the 
post road ran, but before reaching their destina- 
tion in Boston they had an adventure which 
aptly illustrated the unwisdom of waking up the 
wrong passenger. 

They travelled all night as well as all day, for 
the coach carried the mails, and about half-way 
between Worcester and Boston, on a particu- 
larly lonely spot, where the road lay along the 
bottom of a ravine, shut in by tree-clad hills, ris- 
ing steeply on either side, the slow-going con- 
veyance was suddenly brought to a full stop, in 
obedience to the command of two masked men 
on horseback, who covered the driver with their 
pistols as they sternly shouted : 

“ Stop ! or we’ll shoot you ! ” 

Quite convinced that discretion was the bet- 
ter part of valor, the driver promptly reined up 
his horses, whereupon the men, dismounting 
from theirs, said roughly to the alarmed passen- 

92 


DOING DAMAGE TO THE ENEMY 


gers, most of whom had been awakened from a 
doze: 

“ Come now, hand over your purses, and be 
quick about it ! ” 

None of them had been more soundly asleep 
than Major Rogers, and on first awaking he did 
not at once grasp the situation, so that Seth 
whispered in his ear: 

“ It’s robbers, sir; they want our money.” 

At this the veteran scout understood, and in- 
stantly set his quick wits to work to meet the 
emergency. 

“ Don’t speak or move until I tell you,” he 
whispered to Seth, “ but get your pistol ready.” 

The Major then lay back in his seat again, as 
though paralyzed with terror. 

Meanwhile the other passengers were fum- 
bling in their pockets and getting out their 
purses, one of the highwaymen holding a lan- 
tern up in his left hand so as to make sure that 
all were obeying orders. 

Warmly wrapped as everybody was, with their 
purses and watches in their innermost pockets, 
the process of getting at them could not be a 
very quick one, and the highwaymen swore 
fiercely at them because they were not so ex- 
peditious as they thought they might be. 

Not one of them made any show of resistance. 
They seemed thoroughly cowed by the levelled 
pistols, and when their valuables had been ex- 
93 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


tracted from the depths of their pockets, handed 
them over to the rascals as meekly as if it was 
quite the proper thing to do. 

At last only Major Rogers and Seth were left, 
and the larger of the two highwaymen, who was 
evidently the leader, emphasizing the order with 
a full-flavored oath, shouted at them : 

“ Now then, you two, hand over your money, 
and be quick about it ! ” 

Without stirring in his seat the Major whis- 
pered to Seth : 

“ I’ll take the man with the lantern. You take 
the other.’' 

And then suddenly rising, he pointed with his 
left hand beyond the robbers and called out joy- 
fully: 

“ There they are ! They’re just in time ! ” 


94 


CHAPTER X 


TO BOSTON TOWN 

Instinctively the highwaymen turned their 
heads to see what Major Rogers meant, and as 
they did the latter, hissing through his clenched 
teeth : 

‘‘Now then, Seth. Shoot the scoundrels!” 
whipped out his pistol and fired, Seth doing 
likewise so promptly that the two reports 
sounded almost like one. 

With a groan and a cry of agony the two 
wretches, mortally wounded, fell to the ground, 
dropping the lantern, which, of course, was at 
once extinguished, leaving everything in dark- 
ness. 

Vastly relieved at this sudden and surprising 
change in the situation, the driver was about to 
whip up his horses and make off when the stern 
voice of the Major rang out : 

“ Hold there ! Don’t start until I bid you ! ” 

The man dropped the whip and reined in the 
horses. 

“Jump out, Seth, and find the lantern,” was 
the Major’s next order, which Seth made haste 
to execute. 


95 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


The lantern was found and relit, and then the 
Major proceeded to examine the fallen men. 

They were both dead already, the Rangers’ 
aim, in spite of the imperfect light and quickness 
of action, having been unerring, and as the Major 
regarded them with an expression, curiously 
blended, of triumph and pity, he said grimly: 

“You poor fools! You’ve got your deserts, 
but you should have known better than to try 
and rob mel' 

The emphasis he put upon the last word was 
not lost upon his fellow-passengers, who looked 
at one another sheepishly, for they now felt 
thoroughly ashamed of their cowardice, and 
they hastened to cover their confusion by vol- 
ubly expressing their gratitude to the Major 
for his gallant conduct. 

“ Recover your purses and watches, gentle- 
men,” was his only response, however, and when 
that had been done, and the bodies of the two 
ill-starred highwaymen had been decently dis- 
posed of at the side of the road to await the ac- 
tion of the authorities, who would be informed 
in due course, the coach resumed its journey. 

After they had settled down again in their 
seats Seth got a chance to ask the question 
which had been on his lips : 

“Whom did you mean, sir, when you said: 
‘There they are! They’re just in time!’ and 
pointed behind the robbers?” 

96 


TO BOSTON TOWN 


Major Rogers chuckled complacently. 

“Whom do you think I meant? Why no- 
body, of course. It was just a ruse to fool the 
rascals and get them to turn their heads so that 
we could fire first. And how easily they were 
taken in ! ” and he chuckled again at the suc- 
cess of his scheme. 

Seth’s admiration for his commander was 
vastly increased by this fresh proof of his cour- 
age and resourcefulness, and as for the other 
passengers, they professed that he was a perfect 
hero, and that no words of praise were too 
strong for what he had done. 

At last the tiresome journey came to an end, 
and as the coach lumbered through the tortuous 
streets of Boston Seth’s heart beat high with ex- 
pectation. He was now in the big city, and the 
days before him could not fail to be full of nov- 
elty and interest. 

They put up at a comfortable tavern where 
the Major was well known, and the best accom- 
modation the house afforded was placed at his 
disposal. It was a very ordinary establishment, 
and in no wise resembled a modern hotel ; but 
to Seth’s untravelled eyes it seemed quite grand 
and the substantial fare that burdened the tables 
sumptuous indeed. 

The morning after their arrival Major Rogers 
said: 

“ I have certain business to attend to that will 
7 97 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


take me the best part of the day and you will 
have to look after yourself. You’d better go out 
and see the town, but mind where you go, and 
don’t get lost. I’ll be back by supper-time.” 

“All right, sir,” responded Seth cheerily, 
much pleased at the idea of being left to his 
own devices. “ I’ll take good care of myself.” 

After the Major, attired in his best uniform, 
had set out, Seth inquired the way to the water- 
side, for he was first of all anxious to see the 
shipping. 

He found the wharves crowded with shipping, 
and was immensely interested in the bustle and 
noise as the sailors, with many a shout and 
song, toiled away at loading or unloading the 
cargoes. It was all new to him, and he did not 
hesitate to ask many questions of the weather- 
beaten men, some of whom answered him civilly 
enough, while others were decidedly gruff, and 
others still, rightly judging that he was a country 
lad, tried to run rigs on him. 

But Seth was too shrewd to be fooled very 
far. He understood pretty well when he was 
being answered correctly, and he picked up a 
good deal of information as he strolled about in 
an apparently aimless way. 

One of the largest ships which hailed from 
England was discharging a cargo of general goods 
bewildering in variety, and as Seth talked with 
one of the sailors he was thinking to himself : 

98 


1 


TO BOSTON TOWN 


“ How I’d like to go across the ocean to Eng- 
land and see everything there! It must be a 
wonderful place. I wonder will I ever have the 
chance.” 

The possibility of his realizing his desire 
seemed remote enough, but that fact did not 
trouble him, and he made a mental resolution 
to get over to the Mother Land some day, how- 
ever distant it might be. 

His pleasant meditations were at this point 
interrupted by cries of pain and terror, coming 
from a boy who was evidently being cruelly 
treated, and instinctively he hastened to see 
what was the matter. 

On the other side of a great pile of casks he 
found a hulking fellow of the wharf-rat genus 
ill-using a small boy who was vainly endeavor- 
ing to escape from his clutches. 

Instantly his ire was aroused, and without 
taking thought of the consequences, but simply 
obeying the chivalrous impulse to rescue the 
little victim from the ruffian, he sprang forward, 
and, seizing the latter by the shoulders, flung 
him upon his back, at the same time saying to 
the released boy: 

“ Run now ! I’ll not let the brute follow you ! ” 

The little chap at first obeyed, but had not 
gone many yards ere he stopped and looked 
back, being anxious to see how it fared with his 
timely rescuer. 

L.ofC. 99 


I 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


The wharf rat had been so taken by surprise 
and thrown so hard that for a moment he lay 
prostrate and breathless, but the next moment 
he was up, and with a foul oath hurled himself 
upon Seth, who had stood his ground so as to 
protect the flight of the boy. 

So far as size and weight went the ruffian had 
decidedly the best of it, and if Seth had per- 
mitted him to get at close grips and fight in his 
own rough and tumble fashion, it certainly 
might have gone hard with him. 

But he had more sense than to do that. He 
rightly judged his assailant’s purpose, and when 
the latter was almost upon him, sprang quickly 
aside and thrust out his foot, at the same time 
landing with his right fist upon the fellow’s head. 

Down he went again, this time forward in- 
stead of backward, and now, utterly infuriated, 
he seized a large stone as he rose, and was about 
to hurl it at Seth, who could hardly have evaded 
the missile at such short range, when his arm 
was grasped by a newcomer upon the scene, 
who said to him sternly: 

“ Drop that, you rascal ! If you don’t fight 
fair, I’ll throw you into the dock.” 

With a wolfish snarl he turned upon the 
speaker, as though he would strike him with the 
stone, but his uplifted hand dropped quickly, 
and there was something of a whine in his tone 
as he said : 


IOO 


TO BOSTON TOWN 


“What did he hit me for? I wasn’t doing 
nothing to him.” 

“ Why did you hit him ? ” inquired the man 
of Seth. “ What mischief was he up to ? ” 

“ He was beating that boy, sir,” answered 
Seth promptly, “and I interfered. He had no 
business to be hurting a little fellow like that.” 

“Ah, ha, just as I supposed, you miserable 
cur ! ” and as he spoke the wharfinger, who had 
kept hold of the bully, gave him a good shake. 
“Now, look here, if you’re so anxious to use 
your fists, why don’t you take some one of your 
own size ? I dare say this stranger would not 
object to having a round or two with you if you 
want it.” 

Seth smiled and nodded his head. Assured 
of fair play by the presence of the wharfinger, 
he was indignant enough with the bully to feel 
quite in the humor of giving him a good pum- 
melling. 

Not so, however, the other. He had already 
had sufficient taste of Seth’s quality to show 
him that he was an antagonist by no means to 
be despised, and instead of accepting the chal- 
lenge thus offered, he hung down his head and 
slunk off out of sight, while the wharfinger, 
chuckling at his discomfiture, turned to Seth 
and asked him courteously if there was any- 
thing he could do for him, as he seemed to be a 
stranger. 


IOI 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


“ No, thank you, sir,” Seth responded brightly. 
"I’m just amusing myself looking around. I 
never saw big ships before. I’ve always lived 
in the country.” 

“ And I suppose everything about here is very 
new and strange to you,” the wharfinger broke 
in. “Come along with me and I’ll explain 
things a bit and then you’ll understand better.” 

Nothing could have suited Seth better. He 
had been puzzled by many things he saw, but 
shrank from asking questions of the busy men 
about him, but now, thanks to his new acquaint- 
ance, all would be made clear. 

The wharfinger asked him some questions 
about himself, and was evidently much inter- 
ested when he learned that he was a member of 
Rogers’ Rangers, the fame of whose exploits 
had reached even to Boston. 

“And you say Major Rogers is in Boston 
now,” he exclaimed. “Well, well! I must try 
and see him. I should esteem it an honor to 
shake hands with the man who has done such 
wonderful things if all accounts of him be true.” 

Seth assured him that the Major was quite as 
great a hero as he was reported to be, and added 
that if the wharfinger would come up to the 
tavern that evening he would introduce him to 
the great man. 

This suggestion pleased the wharfinger very 

much, and so in great mutual good humor 
102 


TO BOSTON TOWN 


they began their round of the ships and ware- 
houses. 

This was pure enjoyment for Seth. He asked 
as many questions as a school-boy, and to every 
one of them received an enlightening answer. 
They went on board several of the ships, de- 
scending into their holds and visiting their 
cabins, and chatting with their officers, some of 
whom showed them hearty hospitality, and alto- 
gether it was a rich experience to Seth, whose 
keen eyes took in everything, while his active 
mind stored away what he heard, and he said to 
himself exultantly: 

“ Won’t I have a lot to tell Reuben and the 
rest of them at the fort when I go back/’ 

One of the captains whose vessel they boarded, 
just at mid-day, insisted upon their sitting down 
to dinner with him, and after some demur they 
consented, because it seemed easier to do so 
than to refuse him, and it was consequently well 
into the afternoon ere Seth was able to get away 
from his new friends and return to the tavern, 
where he found Major Rogers wondering what 
had become of him. 

The Major was in high feather, and, although 
not ordinarily inclined to be communicative, 
after cutting short Seth’s account of the way he 
had spent the morning, he proceeded to relate 
with great gusto how it had fared with him. 

It seemed that his reception by General Shir- 
103 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


ley was very cordial, and the Commander-in- 
Chief had said many flattering things about the 
value of his services as a pleasant preliminary to 
the highly gratifying information that he had 
decided to give him the command of an inde- 
pendent company of Rangers, and he was to 
wait upon him the following morning in order 
to receive his commission and instructions for 
future action. 

“ Why, isn’t that fine ! ” Seth exclaimed, his 
countenance glowing with pride and pleasure, 
for he heartily shared in his leader’s feeling. 
“You will be your own master now, won’t you, 
and do just what you like? ” 

“To a certain extent, yes,” responded the 
Major complacently, “ but not entirely. I shall 
have, of course, to work together with those in 
command at the forts, but my Rangers will have 
no one to obey but myself.” 

“And what is the great General like?” Seth 
asked, with boyish curiosity. “ Is he very big 
and splendid, and everything grand about 
him ? ” 

Major Rogers smiled indulgently at his young 
companion. 

“ I don’t think I’ll tell you. I’ll leave you to 
judge for yourself. You can come with me to- 
morrow morning when I go to get my commis- 
sion.” 

“ Oh ! can I ? ” cried Seth, his face radiant at 

104 


TO BOSTON TOWN 


the prospect. “You are very good. I’ll be so 
glad to go.” 

That evening the wharfinger called as he had 
promised, and Seth, now prouder of his chief 
than ever, lost no time in telling him of the new 
honors conferred upon the Major ere he led him 
into his presence. 

The two men were soon on easy terms, and 
Seth keenly enjoyed their conversation as they 
exchanged experiences, the one being so famil- 
iar with the life of the sea and the other with 
the life of the forest. Altogether it was a mem- 
orable day for the backwoods youth, and yet as 
he lay down to sleep it was with lively anticipa- 
tion of yet more notable events which the mor- 
row held in store for him. 


CHAPTER XI 


SETH RECEIVES PROMOTION 

It was with scrupulous care that Seth dressed 
himself on the following morning. To be sure, 
he had only his simple Ranger uniform to wear, 
but he took pains to be as neat as possible, and 
it became his shapely sinewy figure so well that 
more than one of those he met on the street 
turned to have a second look at him, and to 
wonder to what regiment he belonged. 

Major Rogers was in high spirits, and talked 
freely as they walked at a good pace to Govern- 
ment House. 

“You may consider yourself pretty lucky to 
have had this trip to Boston, Seth,” he said in 
a tone of paternal patronage, that showed he 
wished his companion fully to appreciate his 
good fortune. “ Not many of my men have ever 
been here, and none of them I’m sure has ever 
seen the Governor, and you will not only see 
him, but may have a chance to speak to him.” 

“I do, indeed, think myself lucky, and I’m 
more obliged to you for bringing me here than 
I can tell you, sir,” responded Seth, with a con- 
viction that left no doubt as to his sincerity and 
106 


SETH RECEIVES PROMOTION 


quite satisfied the Major, who smiled in a kindly 
way upon him, and, patting him on the shoulder, 
said: 

“ That’s all right, Seth. I brought you along 
just because I thought you’d get more good out 
of the trip than almost any of the other fellows, 
and I guess I haven’t made a mistake.” 

This implied compliment warmed Seth’s heart 
and helped to brace him up for the ordeal of ap- 
pearing before the famous Governor, of whom 
he had heard so much. 

They were promptly ushered into the great 
man’s presence. Governor Shirley, Command- 
er-in-Chief of His Majesty’s forces in North 
America, although now well past sixty years of 
age, had lost little of his vigor and none of his 
enterprise, and, despite his being a lawyer by 
profession, took a keener interest in martial 
matters than in anything else. The one su- 
preme ambition of his life was to overthrow the 
French power and make the whole North Amer- 
ican continent an English possession, and to the 
fulfilment of this great purpose he devoted him- 
self with an energy and determination that were 
altogether admirable. 

In Major Rogers he had a man after his own 
heart — one who shared to the full his hatred of 
the French, and his passionate desire to see 
them driven back across the Atlantic, and he 
did not hesitate to say that had he only been a 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


younger man he would have liked nothing bet- 
ter than to become a Ranger himself, and pit 
his daring and skill in scouting against French 
and Indian wiles. 

His reception, therefore, was entirely gracious, 
and when the IV^ajor presented Seth, who felt 
very much abashed, he said to him genially: 

“ And so this is one of your young men, Ma- 
jor. He seems to be made of the right stuff.” 

Then, addressing Seth, he added: “ How do 
you like being a Ranger? Do you prefer it to 
being in the ranks ? ” 

Seth lifted his head and with glowing counte- 
nance replied heartily: 

“ Yes, indeed, your Excellency; I never want 
to be anything else than a Ranger.” 

“ That speaks well for your method of com- 
mand, Major,” said the Governor, with a smile. 
“ If all your men held the same opinion, there is 
no fear of them failing in their duty or loyalty, 
and now if our young friend will withdraw I will 
have a word with you alone.” 

Seth, though greatly pleased at the Governor’s 
kind words, was glad enough to return to the 
ante-room, where, in conversation with one of 
the aides-in-waiting, he passed the time until 
Major Rogers came out again. 

On their way back to the tavern the Major 
gave him the further particulars of his interview 

and the instructions he had received. His com- 
108 


SETH RECEIVES PROMOTION 


pany was to be composed of sixty privates, three 
sergeants, an ensign, and a lieutenant, and they 
must all be picked men, thoroughly used to forest 
life, and of unquestionable courage and fidelity. 

“ My brother Richard will, of course, be my 
lieutenant,” he went on with a keen look at 
Seth, who was listening intently, “but I have 
not yet quite settled who will be ensign. Who 
do you think would be the best man? ” 

“I’m sure I don’t know,” replied Seth quite 
innocently, for he had no glimmering of the 
Major’s drift. “ I expect any of the men would 
be glad to be ensign.” 

“ How would you like it yourself, my lad?” 
asked the Major, laying his hand upon his 
shoulder. 

Seth started and flushed to the roots of his 
hair. That the choice should fall upon him had 
not entered his head, yet there was evident 
earnestness in his chief’s tone. 

“ I ? ” he exclaimed, half incredulously. “ I’m 
not fit. I don’t know enough. I’m too young.” 

The Major smiled approvingly, for he liked 
his spirit of modesty. 

“ What you don’t know, you can learn, and 
you’ll learn all the better for being young. I 
think I’ll give you a trial anyway.” 

Seth could hardly believe his ears. It seemed 
too good to be true, and yet he knew the Major 
too well to suspect him of jesting. 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


“You are very good, sir,” he faltered. “I 
will do my best to please you, and if I fail, then 
you must try somebody else.” 

“ All right then, that’s a bargain,” laughed the 
Major. “ I’ll appoint you my ensign, and if you 
should not prove yourself fit for the position, 
I’ll be free to try somebody else.” 

And thus the matter, which meant so much 
to Seth, was settled, and he went back to Fort 
William Henry in an even happier frame of 
mind than he had left it the fortnight before, 
and fairly bursting with eagerness to tell Reu- 
ben Thayer all about his trip, and how wonder- 
fully well Major Rogers had treated him. 

Reuben was impatiently awaiting his friend’s 
return, and having a nature entirely free from 
petty jealousy, heartily shared in his joy and 
pride, at the same time expressing the hope that 
Seth’s altered rank would make no difference in 
their friendship. 

“ No, indeed, Reuben,” responded Seth em- 
phatically. “We’ll be just the same friends as 
ever I’m sure, even if sometimes you have to 
take orders from me, for, of course, we will both 
of us just be doing our duty.” 

With his wonted promptitude and energy 
Major Rogers set about forming his company. 
There was no lack of material. At Albany as 
well as at the fort the men offered themselves in 
numbers. The difficulty was to pick and choose. 

I IO 


SETH RECEIVES PROMOTION 


In this the Major allowed no other considera- 
tion than the personal qualifications of the man 
to influence him. He would have nothing but 
the best, and when he had finished his task, he 
certainly had gathered together a band of forest 
fighters whose superiors could hardly have been 
found throughout the province. 

A proper allowance for equipment having been 
made by the Commander-in-Chief, the Rangers 
were fitted out with everything necessary, and 
presented a really fine appearance when they 
were paraded at Fort William Henry. 

Major Rogers surveyed them with pride and 
pleasure, that he took no pains to conceal, light- 
ing up his usually stern features. 

“ They’re a likely lot,” he said to Colonel 
Glasier, “ and after they have had a season of it 
with me, they’ll give the French all the trouble 
they want and more too.” 

“ No doubt — no doubt,” assented the Colonel, 
none too cordially, for, to tell the truth, he was 
a trifle jealous of Rogers’ Company, and in- 
clined to think that too much was being made 
of them. 

Major Rogers quite understood this, but was 
too shrewd to appear to do so. It suited him 
best to keep on good terms with the other offi- 
cers, and particularly with those in command of 
the forts, and he took care to avoid all ground 
of friction. 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


At this full dress parade, for so it might be 
considered, he read to his men for the first time 
the instructions received from Commander Shir- 
ley, and they certainly outlined an extensive pro- 
gramme that afforded unlimited scope for dar- 
ing enterprise. 

They ran in part as follows : 

“ You are from time to time to use your best 
endeavors to distress the French and their allies 
by sacking, burning, and destroying their 
houses, barns, barracks, canoes, batteaux, etc., 
and by killing their cattle of every kind, and at 
all times to endeavor to waylay, attack, and de- 
stroy their convoys of provisions, by land and 
by water, in any part of the country where you 
can find them.” 

“Plenty of work there, and lots of danger 
too,” remarked Seth to Reuben when the read- 
ing of the instructions, to which they had been 
attentively listening, was over. 

“Yes, indeed; but I don’t mind that, and I 
don’t care how soon we are given something to 
do. We’ve been shut up in this old fort so long 
that I’m sick of it,” was Reuben’s characteristic 
response. 

As it happened, they had not much longer to 
bide their time, for presently Major Rogers re- 
ceived orders to see what the enemy were about 
at Crown Point, and he set off thither with a 
part of his company. 


112 


SETH RECEIVES PROMOTION 


Although spring was at hand, the snow still 
lay deep in the densest parts of the forests, and 
it was wet and mushy in other parts, so that the 
Rangers could not make as rapid progress as 
they wanted, and the first week of May had 
nearly ended ere they reached the eastern shores 
of Lake Champlain, about four miles south of 
Crown Point. 

“ Now, Rangers,” said their leader, “ we’ll hide 
our packs here so as not to be weighted by 
them, and then push ahead until we get as near 
Crown Point as we can without being seen.” 

Considering how completely they were in their 
enemies’ country, and how easy it would be for 
the latter, if they discovered them, to surround 
them and cut off their retreat, the light-hearted 
way in which they obeyed orders certainly be- 
tokened an indifference to danger that was al- 
most heroic. They literally held their lives in 
their hands, and yet not a trace of anxiety or 
concern showed upon their countenances. 

Advancing cautiously two miles farther, they 
came to a little village, which appeared to be 
deserted, for not a sign of life could they make 
out. 

But the Major was too sagacious a scout to 
take anything for granted. The silent village 
might be only a cleverly designed trap, into 
which he had not the slightest notion of falling. 

“ Seth,” he said to his Ensign, “ take five men 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


with you and reconnoitre that place. The rest 
of us will stay here until you have found out all 
you can about it.” 

Well pleased at being chosen for this perilous 
service, Seth quickly named his men, one of 
them, of course, being Reuben, and then, divid- 
ing them up into three couples, directed how 
they should approach the village from different 
directions. 

Taking advantage of every bit of cover, the 
Rangers crept toward the little group of log 
houses which composed the village, not know- 
ing at what moment there might come spurts 
of smoke from their windows, and the crack 
of muskets be followed by the whistle of 
bullets. 

But the strange silence of the place’continued, 
until at last Seth felt convinced that it was really 
untenanted, and, rising to his feet, said : 

“ Come on, Reuben, there’s nobody there.” 

It seemed a rash proceeding, but he had made 
no mistake. The village was deserted, although 
it showed signs of recent occupation, and when, 
in response to Seth’s signal, the rest of the 
Rangers came up, they ransacked it thoroughly 
without finding anything of value, not even a 
morsel of food, which they would have been 
very glad to get. 

“ I don’t quite understand this,” said Major 
Rogers, tugging at his beard. “ The place is all 

114 


SETH RECEIVES PROMOTION 


right to live in — why, then, should they abandon 
it? ” 

“ Perhaps they’re expecting us to attack them, 
and they’ve all gone into the fort,” Seth sug- 
gested. 

“ I reckon it must be something like that,” the 
Major assented, “and if it wouldn’t give the 
alarm over there and bring the garrison out 
after us, like hornets from their nest, I’d set 
these houses on fire. But I’ll have to leave them 
for the present.” 

So the silent village was spared, and the Ran- 
gers returned to the lakeside, opposite to Crown 
Point where they lay in hiding the whole of the 
day following in the hope that some of the 
enemy might cross the lake and fall into their 
hands. But they waited in vain, for none of the 
French came within their reach. 

A little before sundown a regular fleet of bat- 
teaux and canoes appeared. They had evidently 
come from St. Johns, on the north, and carried 
not less than 500 men. 

At the sight of them the Major’s face grew 
troubled and he shook his head, muttering: 

“ The first batch, no doubt, and many more 
to follow. They’ll be having more men at 
Crown Point by midsummer than we’ll have at 
Albany.” 

Dangerous as their situation was, the Rangers 
remained there one more night, and the next 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


morning killed a number of cattle that were 
roaming about, taking only their tongues, as 
they could not burden themselves with the meat. 

They had just finished a very much needed 
and refreshing repast on these when Reuben, 
who had been to the shores, hurried back, cry- 
ing: 

“ They’re coming after us ! A dozen canoes 
full of French and Indians are crossing right 
towards us ! We’ve not a minute to lose ! ” 

Major Rogers took one quick look, to make 
sure that Reuben was right, and then ordered 
his men to scatter through the forest and find 
their way by different routes to where they had 
hidden their packs. 


ii 6 


CHAPTER XII 


FROM PERIL TO PERIL 

The Rangers would, of course, have much 
preferred keeping together, but they quite un- 
derstood the wisdom of their leader’s plan, and 
dutifully did as they were told. 

Seth struck off to the east, with the idea of 
making a long detour and then steering straight 
for the rendezvous. He could get through the 
forest at a surprising rate of speed, and ere 
many minutes had passed had put such a dis- 
tance between himself and the enemy that he 
had little to fear from their pursuit. 

But they were not the only source of danger. 
He knew well that the whole country round 
about was being constantly traversed by scouting 
parties of Indians in the pay of the French, and 
if he should be captured by any of them he was 
far more likely to be made the victim of their 
fiendish ingenuity as torturers, and to be finally 
tomahawked and scalped, than to be delivered 
over to the French as a prisoner of war. 

Still he did not allow these thoughts, disquiet- 
ing as they were, to depress his spirit. The dan- 
gers that threatened were just what were to be 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


expected, and so long as he continued a member 
of Rogers’ band they would have to be faced. 

“ The Major was right enough, of course, in 
making us scatter like this,” he said to himself 
philosophically, “but all the same I’ll be ever- 
lastingly glad when we all get together again.” 

Guided by his compass he pursued his lonely 
way through the forest until sundown, and then 
looked about for some snug spot in which to 
pass the night. 

It was cold enough to render a fire almost a 
necessity, but, although he had a well-equipped 
tinder-box, he did not attempt to make a blaze, 
lest it should betray him to some skulking In- 
dians. 

A small portion of ox tongue, cold and taste- 
less, served him for supper, and he lay down on 
some moss at the roots of a big tree to pass the 
long hours of the night as best he could. 

The cold chilled him to the marrow, and hun- 
ger gnawed at his vitals. The forest that was 
so silent during the day now gave forth sinister 
sounds as the birds and beasts of prey hunted 
eagerly for victims. First far off and then 
nearer, one answering to another, the blood- 
curdling howl of wolves echoed through the 
darkness, and Seth, shivering with cold, hugged 
his trusty gun tightly, and hoped that the fierce 
brutes would not scent him. 

He wondered where the others were, and 

1 18 


FROM PERIL TO PERIL 


what distance separated him from them. If 
only Reuben were with him, his situation would 
not be quite so miserable; but Reuben had 
taken a southerly direction, and was no doubt 
miles away at the moment. 

The horrid howling of the wolves drew nearer, 
and the unpleasant conviction began to force it- 
self upon him that they had found him out and 
were of a mind to hold a nocturnal banquet on 
his body. 

“ They’ll have to pay dearly for their supper,” 
he soliloquized grimly, “for I’ll kill as many of 
them as I can first, but if the pack is a big one, 
they’re bound to get me in the end, unless ” — 
and at the idea his heart leaped and the blood 
coursed warmly through his veins — “ I keep 
them off with a big fire. I’ll do it and risk the 
Indians being round.” 

With trembling fingers he went to work and, 
of course, the first attempts to light the dry 
moss with a spark from his tinder-box failed, 
but he tried again and again, and at last suc- 
ceeded in starting a tiny flame, which he sedu- 
lously fanned into a blaze. 

There was no lack of fuel at hand, and, piling 
this on, he presently had a glowing fire, that lit 
up the far-reaching forest aisles, and revealed 
the proximity of the wolves by being reflected 
in their gleaming eyeballs. 

“Just in time!” he ejaculated fervently. 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


“ They’ll keep their distance so long as the 
fire lasts, but if it goes out, they’ll be ‘on me 
quick.” 

If he had had only the wolves to consider, he 
would have seized the opportunity to do execu- 
tion amongst them that they afforded by sitting 
upon their haunches and gazing hungrily at 
him; but the report of his gun might betray 
him to the enemy if any of them were within 
hearing of it, and so he was fain to content him- 
self with speculating how many of them he 
might kill before the pack would have the sense 
to take to flight. 

The fire burned so brightly that, in spite of 
the purpose for which it was lit, he found it 
cheering to his spirit, but it required a lot of 
wood to keep it going, and after a while he had 
gathered all that was near at hand, and must 
needs go farther from the protecting flames in 
order to keep up the supply. 

This, of course, brought him nearer to the 
waiting wolves, and they were quick to snap at 
him menacingly, so that he had to make sudden 
dashes out and in again to the circle of safety. 

Presently he bethought himself of a better 
plan. 

“ I’ll be a magician and carry a wand that will 
be my protection,” he said to himself, smiling at 
the childish notion, which, nevertheless, he put 

into execution, for, seizing a blazing brand from 
120 


FROM PERIL TO PERIL 


the heart of the fire, he swung it before him 
shouting. 

“Avaunt, ye fiends! Begone into the dark- 
ness ! ” (quoting from a book of legends he had 
read in his school-days) and charged dauntlessly 
at his determined besiegers. 

The seemingly desperate expedient succeeded 
beyond his expectations. The frightened wolves 
fled howling before him, and he had time to 
secure more than one big armful of wood ere 
they recovered from their panic sufficiently to 
resume the siege. 

Seth laughed at the brutes being so easily 
fooled, and congratulated himself on having 
solved the problem which at first promised to 
be so difficult. 

What between the heat of the fire and the 
warmth due to his exertions, he had lost all 
thought of the cold, and if only Reuben or any 
other of the Rangers had been there to keep 
him company he would not have minded the 
situation at all, save that he never forgot the pos- 
sibility of Indians suddenly announcing their 
presence by a well-aimed bullet or the whiz of 
a tomahawk. 

But the hours went by, and the wolves were 
still kept at bay, and no wolves in human guise 
appeared, and at last the darkness gave way to 
dawn. 

The new day found Seth sorely tired, and 

I 21 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


suffering from hunger and loss of sleep, but far 
from despondent. He knew pretty well in what 
direction to steer in order to reach the rendez- 
vous, and he at once set off, for the wolves had 
slunk away with the night, and he had nothing 
more to fear from them. 

He pushed forward as rapidly as the nature 
of the ground permitted, keeping a keen look- 
out in every direction for either friends or ene- 
mies, and hoping as strongly to meet the first as 
to avoid the second. 

The morning had well advanced, however, be- 
fore anything that resembled a fellow-being 
crossed his vision, and then he was somewhat 
startled by catching a glimpse of a human form 
several hundred yards distant. 

“ Can that be an Indian or a Canadian?” he 
asked himself, “ and I wonder if he’s alone.” 

He could not answer his own question, but he 
could take to cover, and this he did instantly, 
muttering, 

“That fellow may think I’ve not seen him, 
and come right on, and if he does I’ll finish 
him.” 

With his nerves strung to the highest tension, 
Seth crouched behind the trunk of a big tree 
and strove to follow the movements of the other 
man without exposing himself to the risk of a 
bullet from his gun. 

Not the snapping of a dry branch nor the 
123 


FROM PERIL TO PERIL 


rustling of dead leaves betrayed his approach, 
and Seth at last, unable to stand the strain any 
longer, with infinite caution peered around the 
protecting tree. 

This action nearly cost him his life, for the 
instant his head appeared the report of a gun 
rang out and a bullet, striking with a wicked 
thud, buried itself in the trunk not more than 
an inch from his head. It was a close' shave 
with a vengeance, but it did not daunt Seth. 

“ A miss is as good as a mile,” he soliloquized 
philosophically, and feeling safe now until his 
antagonist should have time to re-load, he sought 
his chance to return the compliment. 

It came a minute later as the other raised his 
head full for a peep, and Seth’s finger was press- 
ing the trigger when with an exclamation of as- 
tonishment, he lowered his gun, crying, 

“ Good land ! that’s not a Canadian, but one 
of our own men ! ” 

Sure enough, it was a Ranger who Tad thus 
been stalking Seth, supposing him to be an 
enemy, and who had come within an ace of losing 
his own life in the endeavor to take Seth’s. 

Relieved beyond expression, Seth sprang to 
his feet and shouted, 

“ Oh ho, Ranger! Whom are you firing at? ” 

At this the other came out from his cover, 
and with beaming face hurried over to him. It 

was Andrew Wilcox, who had lost his way in 
123 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


the forest, and was doing his best to find it again 
when he sighted Seth, and, mistaking him for 
one of the enemy, determined to get the first 
shot whatever might be the consequences. 

Highly delighted at the fortunate meeting, the 
two set forth with renewed energy, and by the 
middle of the afternoon reached the rendezvous, 
where they found the rest of the company al- 
ready assembled, and Major Rogers in a humor 
to rate them for their being last, but on hearing 
Seth’s explanation he considered it sufficient, 
and said in a kindly tone, 

“ Not your fault this time, Ensign, and now 
let us see how we’re to get across this lake.” 

Having neither bateaux nor canoes the only 
thing to be done was to build a raft, and to this 
they now gave themselves, toiling away like 
beavers, and making use so far as possible of the 
dry driftwood that abounded until they had 
completed an ugly and clumsy but substantial 
structure. 

Then under cover of darkness they set out for 
the western shore, propelling their slow craft by 
means of such rude paddles as they could fash- 
ion with their hatchets. 

It was a clear, still night, and after the toil- 
some tramping through the forest the easy glid- 
ing across the placid bosom of the lake was very 
delightful. 

“ I quite like this,” said Seth, who, being by 
124 


FROM PERIL TO PERIL 


virtue of his rank relieved from the labor of 
paddling, had stretched himself out on a pile of 
spruce boughs in great comfort. “ I don’t mind 
if it takes us all night to cross.” 

“ But I do,” spoke up Reuben, who was one of 
the paddlers. “ It’s no easy job keeping the old 
thing moving, I can tell you. Just come and try 
it yourself.” 

“ No, thank you,” responded Seth smilingly. 
“ I’m enjoying myself too much here — but, hullo ! 
what’s that light over there? Do you see it?” 

All eyes were at once turned in the direction 
indicated, where now appeared plainly enough 
the blaze of camp fires burning brightly, against 
which the dark forms of a number of men could 
be descried. 

The sight was by no means a welcome one, 
and there was no mistaking the tone of concern 
in Major Rogers’ voice as he said : 

“ Confound them ! They’re encamped at 
the old Indian carrying place in great force, and 
we can’t get past them without being seen. I 
don’t know just what is best to be done. Stop 
paddling until I think it over.” 

The paddlers were glad enough to take it easy 
for a while, and while the raft floated motionless 
on the water the Major wrestled with the prob- 
lem upon the solution of which the safety of the 
party depended. 

The vital question was whether the enemy had 
125 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


reached the place of their encampment by water 
or overland, for if they had come by water they 
would be well provided with batteaux and canoes, 
but if they had come overland they would have 
nothing of the kind, and those on the raft were 
quite safe so long as they kept out of range of 
their muskets. 

But how was this to be known ? Calling some 
of the older men around him the Major con- 
sulted with them, but they had no practical sug- 
gestion to offer. They were in the main dis- 
posed to go ahead and take chances. 

To this, however, their sagacious leader would 
not consent. Brave as he was, and ready enough 
for fighting when the conditions were at all equal, 
he had no thought of risking the lives of himself 
and his men by attempting anything so hazard- 
ous as to get past the French on the slow mov- 
ing, clumsy raft. Some expedient offering more 
hope of a safe issue must be devised. 


126 


CHAPTER XIII 


SCOUTING IN WHALEBOATS 

It is often the unexpected that happens, and 
so it proved in this case, for while the Major 
and his veterans were puzzled as to what to do, 
the problem solved itself in an altogether differ- 
ent way from anything that had been in their 
thoughts. 

Out of the bosom of the night with scarce any 
warning now came a sudden breeze of surprising 
strength which took hold of the raft, and despite 
the utmost efforts of the sinewy paddlers blew it 
directly toward the hostile camp ! 

Major Rogers stormed and swore, and even 
seized a paddle himself, and plied it with frantic 
energy, but all to no purpose. The stubborn 
raft moved steadily if slowly before the wind tow- 
ard the fires, whose blaze would ere long reveal 
its presence. 

The excitement on board may be readily con- 
ceived. The men realized that they were being 
borne into the jaws of death, and prepared to die 
like heroes fighting to the last. 

Nearer and nearer to the camp moved the 
127 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


raft. Seth and Reuben standing together at one 
side grasped each other’s hands in silent under- 
standing. It was no time for words, but for ac- 
tion, quick and decisive. 

“Now, Rangers,” said the Major in a low, 
grave tone that showed how deep was his feel- 
ing: “We’re in a bad box, and there’s small 
chance of our getting out of it. But if we can’t 
save ourselves we can make a good fight of it, 
and sell our lives dearly. Don’t be in a hurry 
to fire. Don’t waste a bullet. Club your mus- 
kets after they’re empty, and keep at it so long 
as you can stand.” 

“ Ay, ay, sir ! ” was the subdued yet resolute 
response of the men as they grasped the guns 
tightly, and gazed at the nearing shore. 

A moment later the wind dropped as suddenly 
as it had risen, and a brief period of calm followed, 
after which the wind rose again, but now it blew 
from a different quarter ; and the raft, instead of 
continuing on the same course, began to move 
northward. 

Major Rogers instantly saw his opportunity. 
Calling upon his men to paddle with all their 
might, he directed their efforts so that the raft 
veered toward the land at a point some distance 
above the camp, where the trees came close to 
the water’s edge. 

“ If we can only get there without being seen 
we’ll give them the slip after all,” he said to 

128 


SCOUTING IN WHALEBOATS 


Seth, and there was an accent of hope in his 
tone. 

Yard by yard the clumsy craft glided in the 
desired direction, and the men’s spirits revived 
as the shore drew nearer without any sign that 
the enemy suspected their proximity. 

At last the raft grounded, and one by one its 
passengers, moving as silently as shadows, made 
their way to land and disappeared in the dense 
obscurity of the woods with lightened hearts; 
for although they were not yet out of danger, 
they had certainly bettered their chances of see- 
ing Fort William Henry again. 

Following their leader in Indian file they 
glided noiselessly through the forest, not know- 
ing at what moment they might be discovered 
by some outlying sentinel or vigilant scout. 

But again fortune favored them, and, without 
being challenged or opposed, they left the en- 
campment a safe distance behind ere the Major 
would call a halt that they might rest for the re- 
mainder of the night. 

Two days later they reached the fort wellnigh 
spent with hunger and fatigue, and quite content 
to take it easy for a while ere setting forth on 
another expedition. 

In the following June Major Rogers’ heart 
was made glad by General Shirley sending him 
six light whale-boats from Albany, accompanied 
by instructions to proceed immediately to Lake 
9 I2 9 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


Champlain and do what he might in the way of 
intercepting the parties coming down from Can- 
ada by water with supplies for Crown Point. 

Seth was delighted when he heard the news. 
The idea of speeding over the lake in the swift, 
strong boats instead of the frail canoes or clumsy 
bateaux, appealed to his spirit of romance. 

“ That will be fine, won’t it Reuben ? ” he ex- 
claimed enthusiastically after telling his friend. 
“ A lot of us can get into one boat, and make it 
go faster than any canoe, and then we can take 
with us plenty of provisions so that we won’t 
need to starve nearly to death as we have done 
before.” 

Major Rogers called his officers together to 
talk over the best ways and means of utilizing 
the new equipment, and as the result of a 
lengthy conference an original and daring plan 
of campaign was settled upon, for the conception 
of which the Major himself was entitled to the 
chief credit, and which he proceeded to carry 
out with his characteristic promptitude. 

Putting fifty of his men into five of the boats, 
he rowed up Lake George to an island, on which 
the night was spent. The next day he went on 
about five miles farther, and landed on the east 
shore of the lake, where it rose rather steeply 
from the water’s edge. 

“ So far it’s been easy enough,” he said to his 
men when they had drawn the boats well up on 

130 


SCOUTING IN WHALEBOATS 


the land, “ but we’ve got hard work ahead now, 
and it will try both our strength and patience to 
the utmost, but I know I can depend upon you 
to go through with it.” 

He might well speak thus, for what they had 
before them was nothing less than the transport- 
ing of the heavy boats over the high land which 
separated the main body of Lake George from a 
long narrow projection lying parallel to Lake 
George, a few miles to the east. 

But they were not the men to be dismayed by 
even so difficult and laborious a task. With 
their wonted spirit and energy they addressed 
themselves to it, and ere long all five boats were 
being dragged up the hillside over a hastily pre- 
pared portage path by which no canoe had ever 
gone. 

It was really tremendous work, and under the 
warm J une sun the Rangers stormed and sweated 
over the many difficulties of the undertaking. 
Officers and men toiled alike, no one exerting 
himself more unsparingly than Major Rogers, 
and bit by bit the way to the summit of the 
ridge, and thence down again on the other side 
was won, until at last after two whole days of 
strenuous labor the whale-boats floated grace- 
fully in the waters of South Bay, and Seth 
spoke for his comrades no less than for himself 
when he exclaimed exultantly: 

“ There, you are now in your proper place, and 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


may it be many a day before you come out of it 
again to go climbing mountains ! ” 

In the general laugh that greeted these words 
the Major, who overhead them, joined heartily, 
adding: 

“ I’m quite of your mind, Seth.” 

After a good night’s rest the Rangers em- 
barked, and rowed northward to within six miles 
of Fort Ticonderoga, where they landed, and 
having carefully concealed their boats, lay in 
hiding themselves until evening. 

As soon as night fell they were afloat again, 
and steering toward the fort, which they ap- 
proached so close under the cover of darkness 
that they could hear distinctly the sentries ex- 
changing the watch-words. 

“ Wouldn’t they be surprised if we were to 
give them a volley, just to let them know we’re 
here?” whispered Seth to the man next to him 
in the boat, as his hand patted the barrel of his 
gun significantly. 

“ Yes, no doubt, and wouldn’t we be surprised 
to have a few hundred Indians come after us in 
their canoes,” was the shrewd response. ‘‘Just 
try and count those camp fires. Why there 
must be a couple of thousand men there at 
least.” 

It was certainly a big encampment that spread 
about the unfinished fort, and Major Rogers had 

no idea of stirring up such a hornet’s nest even 
132 


SCOUTING IN WHALEBOATS 


though his whale-boats could probably outstrip 
the fleetest canoes. Accordingly, after pausing 
long enough to gain some idea of the strength 
of the enemy, he pushed on several miles farther, 
and then ere the break of day, went once more 
into hiding in the woods, where he remained 
until the return of night with its favoring dark- 
ness enabled him to resume his venturesome 
progress. 

Twelve miles of steady rowing brought the 
party within gunshot of Crown Point, and here 
Major Rogers called a halt, for the sky was 
so clear and the stars were so bright that he 
deemed it imprudent to attempt to pass the 
French stronghold. 

At this many of the Rangers demurred. They 
were quite sure the boats with muffled oars could 
slip by unperceived, and they were very anxious 
to try, but their shrewd, sagacious leader would 
not be persuaded. He knew better than to risk 
the destruction or capture of his entire party for 
the sake of a daring dash, and the order to land 
and again take to hiding was given. 

“ Bless my heart, but this is getting tiresome ! ” 
murmured Reuben with a deep sigh after the 
boats had been snugly stowed away under the 
trees. “When are we going to do something 
else, Seth?” 

“ I’m sure / can’t tell you,” Seth replied diplo- 
matically, for he quite realized what the dignity 
r 33 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


of his position as officer required. “ Suppose 
you ask Major Rogers.” 

But Reuben knew better than to approach the 
great man with any such question, and was fain 
to be content with hoping that they would soon 
have something more exciting to occupy them. 

As they lay hidden the next day they saw 
nearly a hundred boats laden with materials and 
supplies for Ticonderoga go by them, whereat 
the Major remarked with significant emphasis : 

“ If General Shirley could only see this with 
his own eyes he wouldn’t lose any time in bring- 
ing an army up here that would make short 
work of Ticonderoga and Crown Point too; but 
the longer it’s delayed, the harder the job will 
be.” 

About noon half a dozen boats, carrying sol- 
diers, seemed to be making directly for the point 
on which the Rangers were concealed, and there 
was every evidence of Reuben’s desire for ex- 
citement being gratified in an unlooked-for way. 

The Rangers grasped their muskets, and made 
ready to receive the Frenchmen with a volley 
that would come like a bolt out of the blue, and 
be sure to produce at least a temporary panic 
among them ; but a whispered order from their 
leader bade them hold their fire until the last 
moment. 

So close came the boat that the talk of those 
on board could be distinctly heard as they dis- 
i34 


SCOUTING IN WHALEBOATS 


puted with regard to where they should land, 
some wanting to go right in, and others to pro- 
ceed farther. 

With throbbing pulses and bated breaths the 
Rangers, lying motionless in the thicket, awaited 
the result of the discussion; and, brave men as 
they were, it was an unspeakable relief to all of 
them when the officer, who wished to go farther 
on, carried his point, and the boats were rowed 
a couple of hundred yards southward, where 
their occupants landed and had their dinner in 
full view of their hidden enemy, whose proxim- 
ity was happily unknown to them. Having 
dined and rested they proceeded on their way, 
and the Rangers breathed freely again. 

That night the conditions were favorable for 
slipping past Crown Point, and the boats suc- 
ceeded in doing so unseen, continuing north- 
ward along the lake until the fort had been left 
many miles behind. 

They were now in the very heart of the 
enemy’s territory, and Major Rogers deemed it 
wise for them all to go no farther, but ordered 
Seth to take one of the boats, and having 
manned it with the best oarsmen, to reconnoitre 
ahead. 

Well pleased at this' commission, Seth chose 
his crew and set forth in high hopes of an ad- 
venture. It was drawing near to daybreak and 
not a breath of wind stirred the glassy surface 
*35 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


of the lake. In perfect silence the men plied 
their muffled oars, and the boat glided swiftly 
forward, while Seth in the bow swept the scene 
before him with keen glance, which nothing 
escaped. 

Presently he started and gave an exclamation 
of joy. 

“ Look over there ! ” he said to the man sitting 
next him. “ Isn’t that a vessel in the cove ? To 
be sure it is. Now, then, there’s our chance. 
Pull away with all your might, Rangers ! ” 


136 


CHAPTER XIV 


THE FIGHT IN THE FOREST 

The vessel which Seth had sighted was a 
small schooner lying at anchor in a cove, and at 
first showing no sign of life. But, as the whale- 
boat shot toward her, a little dog on the deck set 
up a lively barking, which aroused the crew, and 
they crawled out of the cabin in a half-awake 
condition. 

At first they did not realize their danger, mis- 
taking the occupants of the boat for friends. Ere 
the latter could get near enough to board, how- 
ever, their eyes were opened, and, snatching up 
whatever weapons were at hand, they prepared 
to defend themselves. 

“ Surrender or we’ll fire ! ” Seth shouted, and 
then paused long enough to allow his words to 
be understood. 

But the Frenchmen laughed scornfully at him, 
and shook their heads in refusal. 

“ Take good aim then, Rangers, and fire,” was 
the command, and from the whale-boat flashed a 
volley whose effect on the schooner was deadly. 

One-half the crew of the schooner fell either 
killed or seriously wounded, and, quick to take 
i37 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


advantage of the confusion created, Seth dashed 
alongside; and, followed by his men, sprang 
over the bulwarks of the vessel. 

He was not, however, to have everything his 
own way at once. Bewildered and appalled as 
the Frenchmen were, they rallied surprisingly 
when their assailants reached the deck, and 
fought desperately in self-defence. 

Fortunately for the Rangers it was a hand-to- 
hand conflict in which fire-arms could not be 
used, and the sturdy provincials were more at 
home in such rough-and-tumble fighting as the 
contracted space permitted than were their op- 
ponents. 

Seth instinctively sought out the captain that 
he might make him his prisoner, and threw him- 
self upon him with such impetuosity as to hurl 
him backward to the deck. 

But the man was agile and muscular, and had 
no idea of yielding without a struggle. He 
wound his arms about Seth, and put forth so 
tremendous an effort to reverse their position 
that Seth suddenly realized he had a mighty an- 
tagonist to deal with. 

Now had he reason to be glad of his skill in 
wrestling gained at the cost of many a hard fall. 
Summoning all his strength, and resorting to 
his most artful devices, he was able to offset the 
other’s greater muscular power as they struggled 
breathlessly for the mastery. 

138 


THE FIGHT IN THE FOREST 


Being thus evenly matched, it looked like a 
question of endurance with the chances in favor 
of the older man ; but . before it could be thus 
fought out, the other members of the crew had 
either submitted, or leaped overboard ; and their 
captain becoming aware of this, thought it best 
to surrender at discretion. And Seth to his 
great delight found himself in possession of the 
schooner and of several prisoners. 

Having secured the latter, the Rangers, not 
one of whom had suffered a serious hurt, pro- 
ceeded to examine their prize. She proved to 
be laden with flour, wine, and brandy, intended 
of course for the comfort of the force at Crown 
Point; and Seth decided that nothing should be 
done with 'this valuable cargo until Major Rog- 
ers had given directions concerning its disposi- 
tion. 

He accordingly returned with his good news, 
and had a warm reception from his chief, who 
was highly gratified at the capture, and made 
haste to see it for himself. 

“ If we could only take the whole thing down 
to Fort William Henry,” he said regretfully, as 
he surveyed the tempting stuff, “ we could make 
good use of it there. But that’s out of the ques- 
tion. We’ll just have to destroy it; and the 
easiest way to do that is by sinking the schooner 
where she is.” 

And so it was done, much to the disappoint- 
i39 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


ment of the Rangers, who would have greatly 
liked to help themselves freely to the liquid por- 
tion of the cargo; but this the Major sternly 
forbade, for it was no time to engage in a ca- 
rouse with danger on every side. 

Hardly had they finished with the schooner 
when they sighted two lighters coming up the 
lake, and Major Rogers at once set off in hot 
pursuit. 

These cumbrous craft were easily overtaken ; 
and ranging alongside the Major called to their 
crews : 

“ If you surrender at once I’ll give you quar- 
ter; but if you resist or try to escape, I’ll fire on 
you.” 

U nder the circumstance the only wise action 
was to surrender; but whether they lost their 
heads through panic, or really hoped to escape 
capture, the men on board the lighters foolishly 
paid no heed to the demand, and strove desper- 
ately to get to the shore. 

Thereupon the Major ordered his men to 
fire, and the effect of their volley was fearful, 
many of the Frenchmen being either killed or 
wounded, while the rest, thoroughly terrified, 
made no further effort to escape, but begged for 
mercy. 

On examining the lighters they also proved to 
be laden with wine and flour, which was per- 
force ruthlessly destroyed and then came the 
140 


THE FIGHT IN THE FOREST 


question of disposing of the numerous prisoners 
taken. To bring them all back with them was 
not practicable, and accordingly Major Rogers 
selected six, and released the rest on parole. 

Then, feeling well satisfied with the results of 
the expedition, he made his way back to Fort 
William Henry, where the whole party arrived 
without a mishap. 

Throughout the remainder of the year the 
Rangers were in almost constant activity, parties 
of varying strength going out from time to time 
to spy upon the doings of the enemy at Ticon- 
deroga and Crown Point, where the fortifica- 
tions were being steadily strengthened and 
extended, and to take prisoners from whom in- 
formation might be extracted as to the plans of 
the French authorities. 

In all these proceedings Seth had his share, 
although he was not a member of every party, 
and he thoroughly enjoyed the adventurous life, 
particularly when the whale-boats were used, as 
he preferred them even to the canoes. 

In spite of the innumerable risks run, and of 
the countless hardships endured, he was still un- 
scathed and always ready for any service that 
might present itself to his active mind, or be re- 
quired of him by his commander. 

Toward the middle of January of the follow- 
ing year (1757) Major Rogers received orders to 
assemble his whole force which had been divided 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


between Fort Edward and Fort William Henry 
at the latter place, in order to undertake a scout- 
ing expedition on a more extensive scale than 
had hitherto been attempted. 

Counting both officers and men the muster 
showed seventy-five, and the first business was 
to prepare a proper supply of provisions, and 
also to secure snow-shoes for each member of 
the party, as the snow lay deep throughout the 
district. 

This took several days, so that it was the 
seventeenth of the month before they got under 
way. They took their course along the lake 
until they were within a few miles of Ticonder- 
oga, when they made a wide detour inland on 
the western side to avoid the fort, turning east- 
ward again when it was judged safe, and once 
more reaching the lake at a point about midway 
between Ticonderoga and Crown Point at the 
end of the third day. Here they encamped to 
await developments. 

These came promptly enough in the form of a 
number of sleds going from Ticonderoga to 
Crown Point, to which the Rangers at once gave 
chase. 

So soon as they appeared the drivers of 
the sleds whipped up their horses, and made 
frantic efforts to escape; but so fleet-footed 
were their pursuers that only one-half of them 
succeeded, the result of the chase being the 

142 


THE FIGHT IN THE FOREST 


capture of seven men with three sleds and six 
horses. 

On the prisoners being questioned very im- 
portant information was elicited from them, for 
they stated that large numbers of Canadians and 
Indians were being sent to Ticonderoga from 
Crown Point, that there were six hundred regu- 
lar troops at the latter fort, and three hundred 
and fifty at the former, that as soon as spring 
came a great many troops were to arrive for the 
purpose of besieging the English forts, and that 
the French forts were abundantly stocked with 
supplies and munitions of war. 

Taking it for granted that those which had 
escaped him would give warning at Ticonderoga, 
and that a strong force would be sent out from 
there in pursuit of him, Major Rogers now has- 
tened back to the place where he had encamped 
the previous night, and, having made every pre- 
paration for a fight, set out on the homeward 
march. 

The January thaw had come, and the rain was 
pouring down upon the snow, making it so soft 
and sticky that rapid progress was not possible. 

Much concerned by what he had learned from 
the prisoners, the Major led his company, which 
followed in single file. 

“We shall be very lucky if we get off without 
being attacked this time,” he said to Seth, who 
walked beside him. “ The sleds have got to the 
143 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


fort before this, and the Frenchmen with their 
Indians are out after us already, I reckon. 
Well, if they find us we’ll fight them so long as 
we can stand, won’t we? ” 

“ That we will,” responded Seth emphatically. 
'‘And beat them too, uftless they’re four to our 
one.” 

Their course had been over broken ground, 
and they were now crossing a valley about fif- 
teen rods in breadth, the van having reached the 
summit of the slope on the west side, when sud- 
denly spurts of flame sprang out from the woods 
to right and left, and a hail of bullets fell upon 
the Rangers that made many a gap in their thin 
line. 

Lieutenant Kennedy and Mr. Gardner, a vol- 
unteer, fell dead, and others were wounded, in- 
cluding Major Rogers himself, who was struck 
in the head, the injury happily being but 
slight. 

Seth, with his usual luck, was left untouched, 
and made haste to return the fire, as did his 
comrades. 

Major Rogers at once ordered his men to 
concentrate at the top of the hill, and although 
closely pressed by the enemy, and losing several 
more of their number, including Captain Spike- 
man, they succeeded in effecting the manoeuvre, 
and in securing an advantageous position for de- 
fending themselves, from which they maintained 

144 


THE FIGHT IN THE FOREST 


a brisk fire upon their assailants that prevented 
them from closing in upon them. 

After the firing had been kept up on both sides 
for some time, the French attempted a flank 
movement on the right ; but the watchful Major 
perceived it in time, and directed Lieutenant 
Stark to meet it with a counter-move, which was 
cleverly carried out, and the enemy checked 
with considerable loss. 

Meanwhile Seth with a score of his men was 
bravely defending the centre, and, thanks to 
the shelter afforded by the big trees, he was 
able to stand off the attacks of the enemy al- 
though they outnumbered him three to one. 

Again and again the bullets grazed him, one 
piercing his cap, and another penetrating his 
coat sleeve, but he seemed to bear a charmed 
life, for none of the leaden messengers of death 
drew blood. 

Desperate as the situation of the Rangers 
seemed, not a man of them lost heart. Their 
dauntless leader issued his orders to them as 
calmly as if they were merely on parade, and 
they obeyed them promptly and precisely. 

Seth was in perfect command of himself. 
Loading and firing his gun with deliberate care 
he wasted few of his shots, and the accuracy of 
his aim contributed in no small degree to check- 
ing the onset of his opponents. 

Yet gallant and stubborn as their defence was, 
io 145 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


it seemed as if there could be only one end to 
the struggle, for the Rangers were clearly out- 
numbered from the start, and had lost so many 
in killed, wounded, and taken prisoner that 
scarce two-thirds of them were left to continue 
the fight. 

Evidently realizing this, their antagonists 
sought to induce them to submit by ingenious 
wiles, now cajoling them by saying that it was a 
pity so many brave men should have to be killed, 
promising that upon surrender they should be 
treated with the greatest kindness, and again 
threatening them with the most dreadful tortures 
at the hands of the Indians, and asserting that 
they expected every moment such reinforce- 
ments as would enable them to overwhelm the 
Rangers at one charge. 

They even called upon Major Rogers by name 
to show his wisdom by giving up, assuring him 
of their high respect for him, and of their inten- 
tion to deal kindly with him. 

But the sagacious veteran was not to be mis- 
led by such shallow artifices, and he stoutly 
replied that he had no thought of surrender, nor 
would his Rangers yield so long as there were 
two of them left to stand together. 


146 


CHAPTER XV 


FORT WILLIAM HENRY IN DANGER. 

It was about two o’clock when the first volley 
fell upon the startled Rangers, and through the 
long afternoon they had fought doggedly, repel- 
ling the successive assaults of their antagonists 
on flank and centre, and taking toll of them for 
every gap in their own ranks at the rate of two 
to one. 

The Indian allies of the French had at the 
first been very active, gliding hither and thither 
as silently as snakes, or whooping fiercely as they 
darted from tree to tree in their endeavors to 
close in on the stubborn provincials. But when 
the deadly aim of the latter had cost them a 
score of their number they lost heart, and in 
spite of the urging of the French sulked at a 
safe distance. 

After Major Rogers was wounded Seth had 
kept at his side, for he felt a kind of presenti- 
ment of further harm to his leader, which a 
little before sunset was fulfilled by a stray 
bullet wounding the Major in his hand and 
wrist so badly that he could no longer use his 
gun. 


i47 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


“You had better lie down, sir, where they 
cannot see you,” Seth begged of him, “and I 
will fire your gun as well as my own.” 

It was hard for the Major to follow this sound 
advice, but his wounds compelled him, and for 
the rest of the day Seth did double duty not 
only as far as firing went, but in carrying his 
commander’s orders to the other officers who 
were farther away. 

As darkness drew near, the French redoubled 
their endeavors to rush the position held by the 
Rangers; and more than once it seemed as if 
they might succeed, but by the most heroic 
bravery and the wonderfully effective use of 
their guns the Rangers kept them off until at last 
the shadows of night enveloped the battlefield 
and compelled a cessation of the struggle. 

Gathering his officers about him the wounded 
leader announced his purpose. 

“ We’re in a pretty bad fix, I reckon,” he said 
in a tone whose gravity showed how critical he 
considered the situation. “ The rascals have 
trapped us like rats, but we’re not the men to 
die like rats, even if we’ve lost a good part of 
our number and our ammunition is nearly used 
up. Ticonderoga is so close that there’ll be 
sure to be reinforcements brought against us in 
the morning and we must get out of this to-night 
by hook or by crook. After an hour’s rest we’ll 
make a start, and if we’ve to fight every foot of 


FORT WILLIAM HENRY IN DANGER 


the way we’ll do it, for we’re not going to sur- 
render, are we, Rangers?” 

“ No, no, we’ll die first,” was the unanimous 
response heartily given and then the officers re- 
turned to their men to give them directions. 

About seven o’clock the Rangers began their 
difficult, dangerous retreat. The rain had 
ceased to fall, but the snow was water-soaked 
and the trees dripped from every branch. Even 
if the men had been in good condition they 
could not have moved rapidly; but wearied as 
they were, and some of them having to be carried 
on extemporized litters, rudely made of boughs, 
their progress necessarily could be little better 
than a crawl, and yet at any moment out of the 
surrounding darkness a horde of merciless sav- 
ages might burst upon them ravening for their 
blood. 

Despite his wounds Major Rogers took the 
lead ; and as he strode forward with head erect 
and firm, set figure Seth followed in a spirit of 
unstinted admiration, ready to lay down his own 
life in defence of his heroic leader. 

Halting frequently for the rest that was im- 
perative they tramped on through the dreary 
winter night, their hope of escape strengthening 
as they got farther and farther away without 
being attacked. 

At one of their halts Seth asked the Major: 

“ If they leave us alone to-night, sir, do you 
149 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


think they’re likely to follow us to-morrow? 
We’ll be a good way from Ticonderoga by day- 
break and maybe they’ll not care to go very far 
in case we should get reinforced.” 

“ If we can keep clear of the villains to-night 
we’ll have no more trouble with them this 
time,” responded the Major with a grim smile. 
“ They’ll not care to follow us any farther than 
they can help, I’m sure of that.” 

And as it turned out he was right in his sur- 
mise. Left unmolested all night, the Rangers 
neither saw nor heard anything of the enemy 
on the following day, and kept steadily on their 
way back to Fort William Henry, which they 
ultimately reached at cost of great exertion, but 
happily without having to leave behind any of 
their wounded. 

Out of the seventy-five which had gone forth 
one week before, less than fifty returned unin- 
jured, and six more wounded, the remainder 
having been either killed or taken prisoners. 

It was the first severe loss the Rangers had 
sustained since their organization, and they felt 
it deeply, but it did not chill the enthusiasm of 
the survivors. On the contrary, it only inspired 
them to greater zeal, and so soon as their leader 
had recovered from his wounds, they would be 
ready for fresh service against the enemy, to 
whom they now owed a greater grudge than 
ever. 

* 5 ° 


FORT WILLIAM HENRY IN DANGER 


It chanced, however, that Major Rogers’ 
wounds resulted in a serious illness, upon the 
head of which followed an attack of smallpox, 
and this led to a change in Seth’s circumstances, 
as with a number of the Rangers he was assigned 
to strengthen the garrison at Fort William 
Henry. He did not like this, for the monotony 
of garrison life was irksome to one of his restless 
nature ; but he had no option in the matter, and 
accepted the situation as cheerfully as possible. 

If he had known what was in the mind of 
Vandreuil, the Governor of Canada, he would 
have been more content at the change, as the 
French commander-in-chief, having been ap- 
prised of the preparations the English were 
making all too deliberately for the assault and 
destruction of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, 
resolved to anticipate their action by striking an 
unexpected blow, and accordingly set about get- 
ting ready at Montreal a strong force for the 
attack of Fort William Henry. 

The work was well done, no pains or expense 
being spared in the equipment of the expedition, 
which comprised regular soldiers, Canadians, 
and Indians. They were provided with over- 
coats for the day and blankets and bearskins for 
the night, with ample supplies of spare mocca- 
sins and mittens, with kettles, axes, flints and 
steels, and many miscellaneous articles, together 
with twelve days’ provision, the whole being 
I 5 I 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


packed on light Indian sledges, which were 
easily dragged along. No less than a million 
francs, equal in value to as many dollars of the 
present time, were spent upon their force, which 
reached Lake Champlain before the end of 
February. 

At Ticonderoga they rested for a week, and 
made ready more than three hundred short 
scaling ladders, so constructed that two or more 
could be joined into one long one. Then 
marching for three days on the ice of Lake 
George they neared Fort William Henry on 
the- evening of the 18th of March, and prepared 
for a general assault at break of day. They 
were sixteen hundred in all, and being pretty 
well informed of the strength of the English 
garrison, and knowing that they had no suspicion 
of their proximity, they felt perfectly confident 
of carrying all before them. 

Now at this time the garrison of Fort William 
Henry, including the Rangers, consisted of only 
three hundred and fifty-six effective men. More- 
over, the fort was not very strongly built ; and 
even if nearly a score of cannons of different 
calibre, besides several swivels and mortars, 
were mounted upon the log ramparts, it was at 
best ill prepared to withstand a well-organized 
attack, so that the French had good ground for 
being quite sanguine of the result of their enter- 
prise. 


152 


FORT WILLIAM HENRY IN DANGER 


On the night of the 18th Seth had charge of 
the sentries, and although he might have taken 
it easy on one of the bastions, he preferred to 
pace up and down the ramparts, exchanging an 
occasional word with the men on guard. 

An hour after midnight, as he was standing 
beside one of the bastions which faced the lake, 
and speculating as to how long he might have 
to stay at the fort, and whether Major Rogers 
'would soon recover from his sickness, the sound 
of distant chopping came to his ears, and pres- 
ently he perceived the faint glare of far-off fires. 

“ Hullo!” he exclaimed. “That can mean 
only one thing. The French have come down 
the lake to attack our fort, and have made those 
fires to keep themselves warm. They must 
think we all go to bed here at night, and leave 
the fort to take care of itself, but they’re greatly 
mistaken. I must rouse the whole garrison at 
once.” 

This he proceeded to do as quietly as possible ; 
and on the commander being informed, he 
forthwith gave orders for all the cannon that 
commanded the lake to be double-shotted, and 
the gunners to stand in readiness to fire them 
at short notice. 

Then Seth asked permission to try a little 
scouting on his own account. 

“ I’d like to find out how many there are of 
them if I can manage it. May I see if I can get 
i53 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


near enough to make a good guess? If they 
catch me you’ll only be one man short.” 

The commander smiled admiringly at his 
ardor and indifference to danger. 

“ It certainly would be a good thing to know 
their strength,” he said ; “ and if you’re willing 
to run the risk, I wish you God-speed.” 

“ All right, sir, then I’ll go,” responded Seth; 
and putting off everything that would encumber 
him, he vanished into the darkness on his peril- 
ous mission. 

It was an intensely still, starless night; and if 
Seth had not known every foot of the ground 
by heart he might have come many a cropper 
as he hurried in the direction of the fires, paus- 
ing at intervals to listen for any sound betoken- 
ing the enemy’s approach, and then going reso- 
lutely on again until he had got within a few 
hundred yards of the encampment. 

Here he came to a full stop in order care- 
fully to consider the situation. 

“ If I go any farther in this direction I may 
be caught by some of their outposts ; yet I ’m 
not near enough to find out what I’ve come 
for,” he soliloquized. “ I think perhaps I’d bet- 
ter try around to the right.” 

Accordingly he made a detour which brought 
him to the side of the French position, and there 
the cover of the trees made it possible for him 
to draw so close to the camp fires that he could 
*54 


FORT WILLIAM HENRY IN DANGER 


plainly see the figures of the men about there 
and even overheard their talk. 

“ Bless my heart, but they’re as thick as flies,” 
he exclaimed under his breath, with a feeling of 
consternation at his heart. “They outnum- 
ber us completely. I’m afraid they’ll take the 
fort.” 

As he watched them moving to and fro in the 
light of the fires he became aware that they were 
getting ready for a concerted movement, and 
presently they formed up in regular array upon 
the ice which happened at the time to be clear 
of snow. 

“They’re going to march on the fort right 
away,” said Seth to himself. “ I must get back 
and give warning.” 

The French had taken the precaution to send 
out many scouts in advance, and these were now 
spread over the space intervening between their 
camp and Fort William Henry, and Seth there- 
fore had to run the gauntlet of them ere he could 
regain the fort. Consequently every step was 
full of danger ; and he moved with the utmost 
caution yet as swiftly as possible, for the mo- 
ments were precious in the extreme. 

Once and again he passed so close to one of 
the scouts that he could almost have Touched 
him ; but his intimate knowledge of the ground 
stood him in good stead, especially since the 
others were warily feeling their way, and he 
i55 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


escaped discovery as it were by the skin of his 
teeth. 

He had left the encampment far behind, and 
was about congratulating himself upon having 
successfully passed all danger when he was 
challenged by a scout, who suddenly rose right 
in his path. 

His only weapon was the hunting-knife which 
hung in his belt ; and he did not attempt to use 
that, but replied to the challenge by hurling 
himself at the scout head down, butting the 
astonished Canadian full in the stomach, and 
tumbling him upon his back while his gun flew 
out of his hands, and fell beyond his reach. 

So completely was the wind knocked out of 
him that he could not even swear at his assail- 
ant, who had disposed of him in such unlooked- 
for fashion; and Seth, not waiting to do him 
any more harm, dashed on to the fort, where 
the commander was anxiously awaiting his re- 
turn. 

“ They’re more than a thousand strong,” he 
panted, “ and they’re coming up on the ice right 
away. They’ll be here soon.” 

“Well, we’re ready for them,” replied the 
commander resolutely; “and though they are 
four times as strong as we are, they’ll find they 
have no easy task to get the best of us.” 

Half an hour after Seth’s return the sound of 
many men marching rapidly over the smooth 
i5 6 


FORT WILLIAM HENRY IN DANGER 


ice reached the ears of those at the fort, and the 
commander gave orders for the gunners to be 
ready to fire the cannon the instant he gave the 
word. 

He rightly judged that the best way of show- 
ing the enemy that their hope of surprising the 
fort was not to be realized was by receiving them 
with the heaviest broadside he could manage to 
bestow upon them, and so he waited for them 
to approach near enough to render his method 
of greeting most effective. 

The tense expectancy of the little garrison 
may be imagined, as listening in breathless si- 
lence they heard the steady approach of their 
assailants ; and their commander seemed to wait 
so long before giving the order to the gunners 
that they grew impatient and restless. 

But at last clear and firm the command : 

“ Make ready. Fire ! ” 

rang out upon the stillness of the night, and was 
instantly followed by a sudden burst of flame 
and a tremendous explosion that sent the startled 
echoes flying far over the bosom of the frozen 
lake, to reverberate from the snow-clad hills on 
the opposite shore. 


i57 


CHAPTER XVI 


THE FOILING OF THE FRENCH 

Without waiting to ascertain the effect of 
the first broadside of grape and round-shot, 
Major Eyre, the commander of the fort, gave 
orders to reload the cannon for a second dis- 
charge. 

But this was not required. From the cries 
and shouts that were heard in the direction of 
the enemy it was evident that there had been 
deadly work done in their ranks, and that they 
were thrown into confusion and panic. 

“ I should not wonder if we’ve stopped them 
for the present,” said Major Eyre cheerily, “ and 
that we’ll have no more trouble from them to- 
night.” 

In which surmise he proved to be correct, for 
the French were so smitten with consternation 
by the utterly unexpected storm of shot and 
shell that they incontinently turned about and 
retreated to their encampment pell-mell, to the 
vast rage and disgust of Rigaud, their com- 
mander, who stormed and swore at them in a 
vain effort to stay their flight. 

Highly gratified as they in the fort felt at the 
158 


THE FOILING OF THE FRENCH 


foiling of this attempted surprise, they knew 
very well that another attack would certainly be 
made ; and Major Eyre, as soon as it was day- 
light, despatched two of the fleetest-footed 
rangers on snow shoes to Fort Edward to ob- 
tain reinforcements if possible, he being resolved 
to hold out until the very last moment. 

Not long after daybreak the French reap- 
peared in full force, filing off to surround the 
fort upon which they kept up a brisk fire of 
musketry, although they had better have spared 
their ammunition, as the garrison took good 
care not to expose themselves, and the bullets 
buried themselves harmlessly in the stout ram- 
parts. 

“ If it amuses them it does not hurt us,” re- 
marked Major Eyre with a satirical smile ; “ and 
we need not complain so long as they keep so 
respectful a distance.” 

On their part the garrison were by no means 
idle, Seth and his Rangers in particular seizing 
every chance for a shot ; and the excellence of 
their guns, combined with the accuracy of their 
aim, enabled them to make many of their shots 
tell. 

Once when the commander was standing by 
him he said to Seth : 

“Do you see that officer over there on the 
right, who seems to be urging his men to ad- 
vance closer? ” 


i59 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


“Yes, sir,” replied Seth. “I know the one 
you mean.” 

“ Well, do you think you can pick him off for 
me? He evidently thinks he is out of range, 
but perhaps you can show him he’s mistaken.” 

Seth measured the distance carefully with his 
eye. It was a very long shot, and the officer 
being in almost constant motion rendered it still 
more difficult, but he considered it worth trying, 
and said so to Major Eyre. 

“ Let me see then what you can do,” was the 
response. 

Seth loaded his gun with nicest care, and took 
aim with much deliberation, waiting until the 
officer should be still for a moment before he 
fired. 

At last he pulled trigger; and as the report 
rang out the Frenchman staggered, threw up his 
arms, and then pitched forward upon the snow. 

“ Capital ! capital ! ” exclaimed the commander 
enthusiastically. “ I never saw a better shot in 
my life. Where did you learn to shoot like that, 
Ensign? ” 

Seth blushed with pleasure at this praise of 
his marksmanship, and answered modestly: 

‘‘At home on the farm, sir. I’ve been used 
to handling a gun ever since I was a little chap.” 

“Aha, that accounts for it,” said Major 
Eyre. “ Such skill is not to be acquired in the 
army. If all our men could take lessons from 


THE FOILING OF THE FRENCH 


you, they’d be much the better for it. Well, 
you’ve given that poor chap his quietus. We’ll 
see no more of him.” 

The loss of their leader so startled the soldiers 
that they scuttled off out of range in a way which 
highly amused those who were watching them 
from the fort. 

“ They know how to take care of themselves,” 
was Seth’s smiling comment as he reloaded his 
gun. “ But we’ll have more trouble from them 
yet.” 

They made no further demonstrations during 
that day, however, but in the course of the night 
they again attempted to approach on the ice, 
and were again repelled by a broadside from the 
cannon which the watchful garrison let fly at 
them so soon as they were heard advancing. 

Being thus once more balked of their inten- 
tion they sought to vent their rage by burning 
two sloops that were ice-bound on the lake be- 
fore the fort, and a large number of bateaux 
drawn up on the shore. 

So soon as he realized their purpose Major 
Eyre himself sallied out at the head of a party 
to endeavor to protect the craft, but they were 
too late. The flames quickly took possession, 
and could not be controlled, and ere morning 
both sloops and bateaux were completely con- 
sumed. 

The next day was the Sabbath, and it seemed 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


at first as if the French were going to respect 
the day by remaining quietly in camp ; but at 
noon they filed out of the woods, and marched 
across the ice, ostentatiously parading their 
scaling-ladders, and making as imposing a de- 
monstration of their strength as possible. 

“ They’re surely in earnest this time,” said 
Seth as he watched their martial movements, 
which were so carefully studied to inspire the 
little garrison with apprehension. “ We’re not 
to spend our Sunday in peace after all.” 

“ There’s no telling,” responded Major Eyre. 
“ They may be only making a feint in the hope 
of scaring us into surrender.” 

Coming to a halt while still at a safe distance, 
the French sent forward a small party whose 
officer bore a red flag; and rightly judging that 
this was the signal for a parley, Major Eyre bid 
Seth take a handful of his Rangers and go out to 
meet them. 

He gladly obeyed the order, and presently re- 
turned with the chief of the Canadian artillery, 
Le Mercier, who on being led blindfold into the 
fort, announced himself as the bearer of a mes- 
sage from his commander. 

He was conducted to the room of Major Eyre, 
where the other English officers were assembled, 
and courteously invited to deliver his message. 

“ I am sent by my commander, General Ri- 
gaud,” he said in a suave ye tdignified tone, “ to 

162 


THE FOILING OF THE FRENCH 


present his most respectful compliments, and to 
say on his behalf that he invites you to surrender 
the fort without further fighting, and in event 
of your doing so, assuring you of his protection; 
but if you refuse, he will without delay make a 
general assault, and when the fort is taken, put 
the whole garrison to death or deliver them to 
the Indians to be tortured.” 

Having thus spoken with impressive emphasis, 
Le Mercier swept the group of officers with a 
penetrating glance from his dark eyes, and then 
assumed an attitude of respectful attention as he 
awaited the English commander’s reply. 

Major Eyre hesitated only long enough to 
look into the faces of his subordinates for an 
instant, and, being satisfied with what he read 
there, proceeded with his response. 

“ Convey to your commander my compliments 
and inform him how deeply I appreciate his kind 
consideration in thus giving me the opportunity 
of surrendering without the loss of my garrison ; 
but at the same time assure him of my regret 
that I cannot accede to his proposition, as I and 
these with me are fully determined to defend the 
fort to the very last.” 

There was no mistaking the decision with 
which he spoke, and Le Mercier, suppressing a 
pitying smile at the folly of the English in im- 
agining they could withstand so superior a force 
as he represented, bowed gracefully and with- 

163 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


drew, being blindfolded again until he had been 
conducted outside the fort. 

On his return to them the whole French force 
advanced as if to storm the ramparts, and the 
little garrison prepared for a desperate defence ; 
but to their mingled amazement and relief the 
enemy contented themselves with another fusil- 
lade that did no more harm than the first and 
then wheeled about and returned to camp. 

“Well, upon my honor, that’s the queerest 
proceeding I’ve ever seen,” exclaimed Major 
Eyre laughingly. “What can have frightened 
them this time that they retreat before we’ve 
fired a shot at them ? ” 

There was something the matter, although he 
did not know it ; and that was the material out 
of which the French force was chiefly composed, 
namely, Canadians and Indians, who were not 
at all suited for the work at hand. Useful as 
they undoubtedly were for scouting, and for 
fighting in the forest with plenty of cover, they 
had no stomach for such service as was now re- 
quired ; and in reality out of his sixteen hundred 
men the only ones upon which Rigaud could 
rely were the comparatively few regular soldiers 
he had with him, who, however brave and will- 
ing they might be, were not by themselves equal 
to the taking of the fort. 

This was the explanation of what seemed like 
ludicrous vacillation on his part, and for which 

164 


THE FOILING OF THE FRENCH 


he was not so much to blame as his opponents 
imagined. 

Well pleased at the retirement of the French, 
but still puzzled to guess what they would do 
next, the English spent the rest of the day in 
strengthening the defences of the fort, and mak- 
ing every preparation against a night attack. 

When night did come the French were heard 
advancing again, and those in the fort nerved 
themselves for what they took for granted would 
be a supreme effort on the part of their foes. 

Yet once more were they misled, as the real 
object of the assault proved not to be the fort 
itself, but the buildings outside of it, which con- 
sisted of several storehouses, a hospital, a saw- 
mill, and the huts of the Rangers, besides a sloop 
on the stocks, and a number of scows and whale- 
boats. 

Under cover of the night the French crept up 
carrying fagots of pine, and placing them against 
the farther side of the buildings, set them on fire, 
taking care to escape before the flames broke 
out sufficiently to make them visible to the 
watching English who, straining their eyes to 
penetrate the darkness, fired wherever they 
thought there was a chance of hitting them. 

If they were not particularly successful as be- 
siegers, however, they certainly were as incen- 
diaries, for in the course of the night they had 
every building ablaze, and the burning cinders 
i6 5 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


fell inside the fort in such showers that it re- 
quired hard work on the part of the garrison to 
save the barracks and other buildings from be- 
ing set on fire. 

Happily the elements came to their aid in the 
very crisis of their danger, for a thick fall of 
snow began filling the air with large moist flakes 
which soon covered the roofs, and effectually 
protected them against the danger of ignition. 

This snow-fall continued all that day and all 
the next night, not stopping until the ground 
was covered to a depth of quite three feet ; and 
while it lasted the French lay quiet in their 
camp, so that their opponents were enabled to 
gain some respite from the strain they had been 
enduring. 

A little before dawn on Tuesday twenty of 
the regulars, inspired no doubt by the desire to 
do all the damage to the enemy that they possi- 
bly could, made a bold attempt to burn the sloop 
on the stocks, and the several hundred scows 
and whaleboats which had thus far escaped. 

Their design was not discovered until the 
sloop was in flames, and then Major Eyre hur- 
riedly despatched Seth with his Rangers to save 
the other craft if possible. 

They dashed off in high spirits, and got near 
enough to the soldiers to give them a volley 
which accounted for five of them, whereat the 

remainder, without even waiting to return the 
166 


THE FOILING OF THE FRENCH 


compliment, retreated hastily to camp, where the 
Rangers did not venture to follow them. 

The burning sloop, amid the expanse of spot- 
less snow, made a splendid spectacle, which 
gave no pleasure to the defenders of Fort Will- 
iam Henry ; but it was the last blow struck by 
their foes, and when on the following morning 
the sun rose bright and strong, flooding the 
wintry scene with radiance, the snow-covered 
surface of the lake was seen to be dotted with 
the dark forms of Rigaud’s retreating force toil- 
ing back to Canada on snow-shoes, a foiled and 
humiliated band of men. 


167 


CHAPTER XVII 


THE SIEGE OF FORT WILLIAM HENRY 

The failure of Rigaud’s expedition against 
Fort William Henry was followed by a period 
of peace, during which Seth was occupied for the 
most part in leading scouting parties northward 
to spy upon the doings of the French at Ticon- 
deroga and Crown Point. 

He had many an adventure in this service, 
and more than once escaped capture by what 
was almost a miracle, yet his ardor was not in 
the least damped by any of these thrilling ex- 
periences, and he had no sooner got safely back 
from one outing than he began to plan for an- 
other. 

Major Rogers meanwhile had been despatched 
to Nova Scotia on a special mission, and con- 
sequently was far away when the French resolved 
to wipe out the disgrace of the defeats of Dieskau 
and Rigaud by sending such a force against the 
obstinate defenders of the English fort as would 
render complete victory an absolute certainty. 

To this undertaking Montcalm himself gave 
his personal attention, and got together at Mon- 
treal an army of regulars, Canadians, and In- 

168 


SIEGE OF FORT WILLIAM HENRY 


dians that, so far as numbers went, certainly 
seemed to assure success. 

By the end of J uly he had all transported to 
Ticonderoga, where Bourlamaque, with the bat- 
talion of Bearn and Royal Rousillon had been 
since May, finishing the fort and sending out 
scouting parties to discover the strength and 
designs of the English at Fort William Henry. 

Ticonderoga, which by being made the base 
of the projected attack upon the English strong- 
hold had become a point of great importance, is 
a high rocky promontory between Lake Cham- 
plain on the north and the mouth of the outlet 
of Lake George on the south. Near its extrem- 
ity and close to the fort were encamped the bat- 
talions of Bourlamaque., 

Two miles farther south a wide space had been 
cleared which was covered by the tents of the 
regiments of La Reine, Languedoc, and Gui- 
enne, all commanded by Levis. 

From this camp a road a mile and a half long 
had been cut through the forest to the navigable 
waters, and at the end of this road was another 
fortified camp formed of colony regulars, Cana- 
dians, and Indians, under command of Rigaud. 

Beyond this at the edge of Lake George, and 
at Rogers’ Rock, were stationed advance parties 
whose business it was to watch the movements 
of the English. 

There were thus gathered within a range of 

169 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


four miles fully eight thousand fighting men, 
representing the brightest civilization and the 
darkest barbarism of the day, from the scholarly 
Montcalm and the accomplished Levis with 
their suite of courtly young officers, to the foulest 
man-eating savages of the uttermost northwest. 

The Indian allies numbered nearly two thou- 
sand. They were exceedingly difficult to man- 
age and cost their employers infinite trouble, 
besides being a tremendous expense. There 
was no keeping them fed. Rations would be 
served to them for a week, and they would con- 
sume them in a couple of days and demand 
more. Once when refused they took the matter 
into their own hands, and butchered and de- 
voured a drove of cattle intended for the troops. 

Their supreme delight was to get drunk ; and 
sometimes when crazed with brandy they fought 
like wolves, grappling and tearing each other 
with their teeth. 

Some of them were cannibals, and actually 
dared to indulge in their abominable appetite 
while in camp, the unfortunate victim being an 
English prisoner taken by one of their war 
parties. 

Such were the fiends in human form whose 
aid the French had enlisted, and who subse- 
quently were to cast so dark a stain upon the 
record of this enterprise. 

It was the ist of August when, having got 
170 


SIEGE OF FORT WILLIAM HENRY 


everything arranged to his satisfaction, Mont- 
calm set his whole force in motion toward the 
object of his undertaking. The spectacle pre- 
sented was a brilliant and imposing one, and 
well calculated to strike terror into the hearts of 
those against whom it was prepared. 

Seth and a little band of his Rangers, who had 
ventured out from Fort William Henry on a 
scouting expedition, beheld it from the summit 
of a lofty hill, and their spirits sank at the sight. 

“ Heaven help us ! There’s no counting 
them ! ” exclaimed Seth in a tone of consterna- 
tion. “We can’t possibly hold the fort against 
them. They’ve five times as many men as we 
have, at least.” 

“ Let us hurry back to the fort then and tell 
Colonel Monro,” Reuben Thayer made haste to 
suggest. “ Perhaps he’ll think it best not to at- 
tempt to defend our fort, but to retreat to Fort 
Edward.” 

“ We can’t tell him too soon what we’ve seen,” 
returned Seth. “ But I’m sure he won’t give up 
the fort without a fight. He’s too brave to do 
that.” 

In this opinion of Lieutenant-Colonel Monro, 
who then was in command at Fort William, 
Seth showed how well he knew the man, for the 
sturdy Scotch veteran certainly was not of the 
kind to beat a retreat or to surrender at discre- 
tion. On the contrary, he could be relied upon 
171 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


to fight to the very last; and, if need be, to die 
rather than give up his sword. 

What the Rangers saw was the French flotilla 
moving up the lake in the full blaze of the after- 
noon sun. 

First a great swarm of birch canoes crowded 
with naked savages in war paint and feathers, 
and gliding swiftly over the smooth water in no 
particular order. Next came two hundred and 
fifty bateaux, moved by sail and oar, some bear- 
ing the Canadian militia and some the battalion 
of old France in handsome uniform. Then fol- 
lowed the cannon and mortars, each one placed 
on a platform, sustained by two bateaux lashed 
side by side, and rowed by the militia of Saint 
Ours. The battalions of Bearn and Rousillon, 
the Canadians of Gaspe with the provision boats 
and the field hospital continued the procession, 
and lastly a rear-guard of regulars closed the 
long line. 

No wonder that while the watching scouts 
could not help being filled with admiration at 
the spectacle, they also were depressed by the 
conviction that to repel the attack of such a 
force was hopeless, and that the fate of their be- 
loved fort was sealed. 

With utmost speed they made their way back 
through the woods, and told Commander Monro 
what they had seen. 

As Seth rightly judged, the brave old man, 

172 


SIEGE OF FORT WILLIAM HENRY 


while fully realizing the seriousness of the situa- 
tion, did not for a moment contemplate the 
evacuation of the fort, or the anticipating of the 
attack by sending a message of surrender to 
Montcalm. 

What he did do was at once to despatch a note 
to General Webb, who was at Fort Edward, 
fourteen miles distant, with nearly two thousand 
men, informing him of the advance of the French 
and asking for reinforcements, a request which 
he repeated again and again during the siege, 
without evoking any response from Webb, who 
seemed to have been too timid to do as he should 
have done, namely, hasten forward with his 
troops to the support of his imperilled brethren 
in arms. 

All told, including sailors and mechanics, 
Monro had a bare two thousand men wherewith 
to oppose the eight thousand of the French 
commander. Yet when Montcalm, having 
arrived within striking distance of the fort, and 
completed his preparations for the siege, sent an 
aide-de-camp to him with the following letter : 

“ I owe it to humanity to summon you to sur- 
render. At present I can restrain the savages, 
as I might not have power to do under other 
circumstances, and an obstinate defence on your 
part can only retard the capture of the place a 
few days, and endanger an unfortunate garrison 
which cannot be relieved. I demand a decisive 
i73 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


answer in an hour;” the doughty Scotchman 
gave his answer at once, and it was that he and 
his soldiers would defend themselves to the last, 
emphasizing his refusal by a broadside from his 
cannon so soon as the truce was ended. 

While the white flags were flying the Indians 
swarmed over the fields before the fort; and 
when they learned the result of the parley, an 
Abenakis chief shouted exultantly in broken 
French: 

“You won’t surrender, eh! Fire away then, 
and fight your best, for if I catch you, you shall 
get no quarter” — a threat that was only too 
awfully fulfilled in the sequel. 

At this time Fort William Henry was an 
irregular bastioned square, formed by embank- 
ments of gravel, surmounted by a rampart of 
heavy logs laid in tiers crossed one upon an- 
other, the interstices being filled with earth. 
The lake protected it on the north, the marsh 
on the east, and ditches with chevaux-de-frise 
on the south and west. Seventeen cannons, 
great and small, besides mortars and swivels were 
mounted upon the ramparts. 

Montcalm’s first proceeding was to open 
trenches for the protection of his soldiers — a 
task of extreme difficulty, as the ground was 
covered with half burned stumps, roots, and 
fallen trunks. All night of the 4th of August 
eight hundred men toiled with pick and spade 
174 


SIEGE OF FORT WILLIAM HENRY 


and axe, while the cannon from the fort flashed 
through the darkness, and grape and round shot 
whistled and screamed over their heads. 

Before daybreak the first parallel was com- 
pleted, and a battery nearly finished on the left, 
while another was well started on the right. 
The men now worked under cover, safe in their 
burrows, one gang relieving another, as the 
operations went steadily on all day. 

So soon as these forts were in readiness, 
Montcalm mounted his cannon upon them, eight 
at the left and eleven at the right, and proceeded 
to bombard Fort William Henry vigorously. 
The fort replied with spirit, and for several days 
ensuing the heavy guns thundered from dawn 
until dark, while from a hundred peaks and crags 
the astonished wilderness roared back the sound. 

The Indians enjoyed this artillery performance 
greatly. They had been of no use whatever thus 
far, as instead of devoting themselves to scouting, 
they loitered about the camp and trenches, or 
amused themselves by firing at the fort from 
behind stumps and logs. 

Some, in imitation of the French, dug little 
trenches for themselves in which they wormed 
their way toward the ramparts, and now and 
then picked off an artilleryman, although not 
without loss on their own side. 

Seth, whose heart was hot against the red- 
skins, not only because they were of the enemy, 
i75 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


but because of what he had himself suffered at 
their merciless hands, made a point of watching 
for them ; and not a day passed without his hav- 
ing the satisfaction of putting an end to the 
career of one or more of them. 

By the end of the week the French had pushed 
their trenches so far forward that a battery was 
begun not two hundred and fifty yards from the 
fort, and the Indians lay so thick among the 
beans, maize, and cabbages that none of the gar- 
rison dared show themselves for an instant, as 
that meant certain death. 

The position of the besieged had now become 
deplorable. More than three hundred of them 
had been either killed or wounded ; the dread 
disease of smallpox was raging in their midst 
and the casemates were crowded with the sick. 
All the large cannon were burst or dismounted, 
the ramparts were already breached in several 
places, and a general assault might be looked 
for at any time, while there was evidently no 
hope of assistance from Fort Edward where 
General Webb still stayed inert. 

After consultation with his officers Monro 
determined upon attempting a sortie in force, 
and among those selected to share in it were 
the Rangers, the majority of whom had so far 
escaped both shot and sickness. 

“We have about reached the end of our 

tether,” the sturdy old Scotchman said sadly to 
176 


SIEGE OF FORT WILLIAM HENRY 


the council. “A sortie seems to be the only 
thing left for us to try. I confess I am not at 
all sanguine myself of it doing us any good, but 
there’s no telling. It may gain us some respite 
even though it does not effect our deliverance.” 

There was no dissenting voice, but on the 
contrary a hearty support of the veteran’s pro- 
ject ; and when volunteers for the forlorn hope 
were invited by him, not one of the officers held 
back. 

Seth felt highly gratified when to the Ran- 
gers was assigned the perilous honor of taking 
the lead. 

“ There is only one chance in ten of our get- 
ting back alive, Reuben,” he said to his friend, 
as, with countenance whose gravity showed how 
fully they realized what was before them, they 
talked together after the council of officers had 
dispersed, “but we can only do our best. If 
we have to surrender, I pray God we may not 
fall into the hands of those red devils the French 
have with them. I’d rather be shot at once than 
be taken prisoner by them and tortured to 
death.” 

“And so would I,” answered Reuben. 
“They’re perfect fiends, not human beings, 
and the French ought to be ashamed of them- 
selves for having such allies.” 

It was at the dead of night when the majority 
of the effective men in the garrison silently 
12 177 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


moved out of the fort and across the fields in 
the direction of Montcalm’s encampment. 

They were favored in their enterprise by the 
intense darkness of the night, and by the fact 
that the bombardment had been so heavy all 
day that the French were persuaded they had 
practically cannonaded their antagonists into 
helplessness, and consequently took no special 
precautions against a night attack. 

Led by the Rangers, who seemed to possess 
the faculty of seeing in the dark, the gallant 
band made its way resolutely toward the enemy’s 
position, and had got so near that they could 
hear the sentries exchanging the watchword on 
their rounds, when the challenge “ Qui va la ? ” 
rang sharply out on the still night air, and they 
came to a sudden halt. 


178 


CHAPTER XVIII 

THE MASSACRE OF THE ENGLISH 

Seth was so close to the sentry who had dis- 
covered their approach, that with a single bound 
forward he was able to cut him down and silence 
him forever. 

But his warning challenge had been heard by 
others of the guard, and they hurried out to in- 
vestigate. Realizing that further concealment 
of their design was not possible, Colonel Frye, 
who was in command, called upon his men to 
fire, and they poured a volley into the French 
encampment that wakened every sleeper, and 
for the moment created lively confusion. 

The well-disciplined soldiers soon regained 
order, however, and rushed to repel the attack 
in such numbers that Colonel Frye at once saw 
the hopelessness of withstanding them, and gave 
the command to retreat. 

Reluctantly enough his men obeyed, for, al- 
though they could see for themselves how they 
were outnumbered, they did want to inflict some 
loss upon the enemy before retreating to the fort. 

They accordingly gave back as slowly as pos- 
sible, firing and reloading their muskets with 
1 79 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


such celerity that the French conceived their 
numbers to be much greater than they really 
were, and were more cautious in their pursuit 
than they would have been if they had known 
the truth. 

Seth was one of the last to retreat, and his 
slowness nearly cost him his life, as an Iroquois 
scout, creeping serpent-like through the long 
grass, got near enough to hurl his tomahawk at 
him with deadly aim. But by a happy chance 
Seth at that moment threw up his gun, and the 
hatchet struck it instead of his head, glancing 
harmlessly off to one side. 

In his rage at having missed, the Iroquois 
sprang upon Seth, and throwing his arms about 
him, strove to fasten his teeth in the Ranger’s 
throat as though he were a wolf. 

Now did Seth’s skill in wrestling serve him 
in good stead. The redskin’s onset was so sud- 
den and unexpected that he had almost suc- 
ceeded in his brutal purpose ere his intended 
victim could defend himself; but the next in- 
stant by a dexterous movement he evaded the 
cruel teeth, and then, dropping his gun, gripped 
his assailant around the neck, and flung him 
backward with such force that the savage’s senses 
were knocked out of him, and he lay limp and 
harmless. 

“It would serve you right if I put my knife 
into you,” growled Seth, as he groped about for 

180 


THE MASSACRE OF THE ENGLISH 


his gun. But he forebore to do it, and having 
picked up the gun, hurried after the others, who 
of course had not waited for him, and with them 
regained the protection of the fort. 

The sortie having accomplished nothing, the 
situation seemed hopeless ; and after again con- 
sulting with his subordinates, Colonel Monro 
with a heavy heart came to the conclusion that 
there was no alternative but to capitulate on the 
best terms obtainable. 

Accordingly on the 9th of August a white flag 
was raised, a drum was beat, and Lieutenant- 
Colonel Young, mounted upon horseback, ac- 
companied by a few soldiers, went to the tent 
of Montcalm. 

As the result of his negotiations with the 
French commander it was agreed that the Eng- 
lish troops should march out with the honors of 
war, and be escorted to Fort Edward by a de- 
tachment of French troops ; all French prisoners 
captured in America since the war began should 
be given up within three months ; and that all 
the stores, munitions, and artillery were to be 
the prize of the victors, with the exception of 
one field-piece which the garrison were to be 
permitted to retain in recognition of their brave 
defence. 

These terms were fair and honorable to both 
parties ; and if only Montcalm had taken such 
measures as would have insured their being car- 

181 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


ried out, the horrible proceedings of the follow- 
ing days, whereby what might otherwise have 
been considered a creditable achievement was 
turned into an appalling scandal, might have 
been prevented. 

It is true that before signing the capitulation 
Montcalm held a council with the Indian chiefs 
and asked them to consent to the conditions 
and to promise to restrain their warriors from 
disorder, and that the chiefs approved of every- 
thing and promised everything. 

But he should not have been content with this. 
Knowing the nature of his allies as he did, he 
ought to have used his regular troops upon 
whom he could depend as a guard for the Eng- 
lish, who were in no position to defend them- 
selves. 

When the garrison evacuated Fort William 
Henry they marched over to join their comrades 
in the entrenched camp which was included in 
the surrender; and no sooner had they gone 
than a horde of yelling savages climbed through 
the enclosures in search of rum and plunder. 

They found very little of either, and at once 
proceeded to vent their disappointment upon 
the unfortunate men, who, having been too sick 
to leave their beds, were awaiting removal later 
on. 

These they butchered without remorse, and 
even cut off their heads, which they paraded 

182 


THE MASSACRE OF THE ENGLISH 


proudly from the casements. It was a terrible 
scene, yet no attempt to check the fiends was 
made by the French, who seemed afraid to in- 
terfere with their savage allies. 

Having looted the fort of what little there was 
in it, the Indians then turned their attention to 
the entrenched camp, where all the English were 
now collected. The French guard stationed 
there either could not or would not keep out the 
bloodthirsty rabble, and they roamed among the 
tents intrusive and insolent, their painted vis- 
ages marked with sinister grins as they twitched 
the long hair of the terrified women in anticipa- 
tion of the scalping knife. 

Seth saw it all, and the witnessing of such in- 
dignities so filled him with fury that again and 
again he could scarce restrain himself from strik- 
ing down one of the dusky demons. But of 
course any such act would have been utter folly, 
as it would certainly have precipitated the gen- 
eral massacre for which the Indians hankered. 

At length through the earnest efforts of Mont- 
calm and his officers something like order was 
obtained and the most of the Indians were per- 
suaded to return to their own encampment for 
the night. 

But there was little rest in the English camp, 
and as soon as day broke they made haste to set 
out for Fort Edward. They had their muskets, 
but they were without ammunition; and no 
183 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


sooner had they begun to move than the Indians, 
in spite of the presence of the French escort, 
began to plunder them of their little baggage, 
demanding rum, of which there was only a little 
in the soldiers’ canteen. 

When after much difficulty the column at last 
got started along the road, the redskins crowded 
in upon them, impeding their progress, snatching 
caps, coats, and weapons from the men, toma- 
hawking those that resisted, and seizing upon 
women and children, dragged them shrieking 
away, or murdered them on the spot. 

Suddenly arose the awful sound of the war- 
whoop, and at this signal for butchery the whole 
mob of savages rushed upon the rear of the col- 
umns where the New Hampshire men were, and 
proceeded to slaughter them wholesale. 

A frightful tumult ensued. Montcalm, Levis, 
Bourlamaque, and other French officers who 
had hastened to the scene, threw themselves 
among the Indians, and by promises and threats 
sought to stop their murderous frenzy. 

“ Kill me, but spare the English who are 
under my protection ! ” exclaimed Montcalm in 
the dramatic fashion characteristic of his race, 
and he himself tore a young officer from the grasp 
of a Huron who was about to tomahawk him. 

Yet the dreadful work went on until many 
hundreds of the unfortunate English had been 
either killed or carried off by the ruthless sav- 

184 


THE MASSACRE OF THE ENGLISH 


ages, before at last the survivors were got back 
to the entrenched camp, and there protected 
from further massacre by an adequate guard of 
French regulars. 

Seth had a marvellous escape, or rather series 
of escapes. H is chivalrous instinct had impelled 
him to keep near the women and children in the 
hope of in some manner being helpful to them ; 
but, although he had possessed the strength of 
Samson, he could not have accomplished any- 
thing, for the Indians crowded in upon them 
from all sides, and it was impossible to ward off 
their assaults. 

Y et he kept his place until at the raising of 
the war-whoop the general attack was made; 
and then in the wild confusion that followed he 
was jostled and hustled this way and that until 
he found himself separated from the main body 
and with the way clear to the forest. 

“ I can do nothing for the others,” he mut- 
tered. “ I may as well try and save myself.” 
And after a quick glance to right and left to 
make sure there were no Indians near, he started 
to run for the shelter of the trees. 

He had not gone many yards when the cry of 
a child fell on his ears. He checked himself for 
an instant, and looking in the direction from 
which the cry came, saw a little boy half hidden 
in the grass, who was calling to him : 

“ Take me with you, oh, take me with you too ! ” 
185 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


At first Seth hesitated. Where delay prob- 
ably meant death, to attempt to save the boy 
might merely imperil himself without benefiting 
the boy. 

But the hesitation was only for an instant, and 
then, carried away by a generous impulse, Seth 
changed his course so as to take hold of the little 
fellow’s hand, and together they fled toward the 
forest. 

Half way thither they were met by an Indian 
who barred the way with a bloody tomahawk, 
and yelled at them in a frenzied fashion. He 
was a giant in size, and at sight of him the boy 
shrieked and cowered close to Seth, who came 
to a full stop as though he had no thought of 
resistance. 

Misled by this apparent submission, the In- 
dian, his eyes gleaming with the lust of blood, 
made a grab at the boy’s hair with the intention 
of scalping him. Seth then saw his opportunity, 
and with a quick spring threw himself upon the 
wretch, who, not expecting this sudden onset, 
went down headlong, while the boy dodged out 
of his reach unhurt. 

Holding him fast despite his violent struggles 
to get free, Seth tore the tomahawk from his 
grasp, and despatched him with the weapon al- 
ready stained with the blood of his victims. 

Then exclaiming : “ One more devil done for ! ” 

he caught the boy by the hand, and resumed the 
186 


THE MASSACRE OF THE ENGLISH 


race for the forest, which they reached, all spent 
but scathless. 

Knowing his way thoroughly, he pushed on 
as rapidly as the strength of his little companion 
permitted, keeping a sharp lookout lest there 
should be any scouts hunting for fugitives. 

By the end of an hour the poor boy was so 
exhausted that Seth had either to let him have 
a rest, or desert him. He of course chose the 
first alternative, and they hid in a hollow where 
no one could have found them save by coming 
right upon them. 

The boy was full of gratitude to his preserver, 
and as the little chap curled up beside him, 
seeming to feel quite secure, Seth took some 
comfort from having been the means of saving 
his young life. 

All that night and the following day they were 
in the woods with nothing to stay their hunger 
save the few berries they could find, but ere the 
return of night they reached Fort Edward, be- 
ing the first of the fugitives to do so. 

Seth’s account of the atrocities perpetrated by 
the enemy filled those at Fort Edward with 
horror and indignation; and if the men had 
been left to themselves, they would have rushed 
to the scene to avenge their brethren. 

But the saner councils of their officers pre- 
vailed. They were not in sufficient force to 

cope with the French and their allies, and, how- 
187 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


ever daring and impetuous their attack might 
be, it could only result in their own discomfiture. 
There was nothing to be done but to keep within 
the fort until the invaders had finished their 
work of destruction. 

During the days that followed cannon were 
fired at intervals from the fort to guide those 
who had fled to the woods, whence they came 
dropping in half dead with hunger; but it was 
not until more than a week after the surrender 
that the main body of the garrison appeared 
under the escort of a strong French guard. 

Meanwhile the victors were busy demolishing 
the English stronghold. First the barracks 
were torn down, and then the huge pine logs of 
the ramparts were got together in a heap, upon 
which were thrown the bodies of the butchered 
men and women, and the whole was set on fire. 
“The mighty funereal pyre blazed all night. 
On the following day the army re-embarked for 
Canada. The din of ten thousand combatants, 
the rage, the terror, the agony were gone ; and 
no living thing was left but the wolves that 
gathered from the mountains to feast upon the 
dead.” 


188 


CHAPTER XIX 

AN ADVENTURE IN NEW YORK 

The fall of Fort William Henry, and the hor- 
rors that followed it, especially as his friend 
Reuben Thayer was among the victims, threw 
Seth into a state of deep depression. His life 
seemed to have lost its spring, and the impulse 
was strong upon him to obtain his release from 
the Rangers, and make his way down to 
Boston in the hope of securing a berth on 
an ocean-going ship, where he might forget 
his grief in the novel experience of a sailor’s 
life. 

He did yield to it so far as to go to Albany, 
where Major Rogers was at the time, and to 
open his heart to him in the matter, although 
he much feared that he would get only a good 
rating from him. 

But the veteran warrior showed a side of his 
nature he had never before revealed. Instead 
of meeting Seth with harshness or ridicule he 
showed him surprising sympathy. 

“ I know just how you feel, my boy,” he said 
kindly. “It is hard to be patient and to keep 
up one’s heart when everything seems going 
189 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


wrong, although some of us may be trying to 
do our best. If the English generals would only 
take the advice that is given them, these disasters 
need never have happened, and not only would 
Fort William Henry still be ours, but we would 
have had Ticonderoga and maybe Crown Point 
too. But it’s no use crying over sfcilt milk, Seth. 
We must only cheer up and try again. The 
generals will be wiser next time, and we’ll drive 
the French back to Canada before you’re much 
older.” 

Touched and brightened by the Major’s words 
which went right to his heart, Seth actually 
smiled as he responded : 

“ Of course, that’s the right way to look at it, 
sir. It’s no good getting into the dumps and 
staying there. We’ll beat the French yet, and 
teach those devilish Indians a lesson that they 
will not soon forget.” 

‘‘Spoken like a man, Seth!” exclaimed the 
Major, giving him a hearty clap on the back. 
“You’re got the right stuff in you, and you’ll 
live to see the English masters of the whole 
continent, take my word for it. And now I’ve 
got a bit of good news for you. How would you 
like to take a trip to New York byway of a little 
change? ” 

What was left of the gloom that darkened 
Seth’s countenance vanished in an instant and 
he answered eagerly : 


AN ADVENTURE IN NEW YORK 


“ How would I like it ? Why, I’d be delighted 
to go. Are you going, sir? ” 

“ No, I’m not going, Seth, but I have an im- 
portant despatch to send, and I dare say I could 
arrange for you to carry it if you will promise 
me to come back, and not go off on one of the 
ships, of which there are a good many more there 
than at Boston.” 

“ Oh, I’ll promise to come back if you’ll only 
let me go,” said Seth earnestly. “ But I hope I 
can stay a little while so as to see the great city.” 

“That will be all right, my boy,” and the 
Major smiled indulgently. “ I will tell you 
more about it in the morning, and now you may 
as well have a look around Albany and perhaps 
you will come across some of your friends.” 

So in a very lightened frame of mind Seth 
left his chief, and spent the rest of the day see- 
ing the sights of the growing town, whose most 
important citizens at that time were the Dutch 
traders who knew so well how to get the better 
of the Iroquois and other friendly Indians that 
brought them furs in barker for goods. 

The peaceful bustle of business was a wonder- 
fully pleasant change after the bloody strife 
through which he had so lately passed, and it 
served to restore the tone of his spirits so that 
he lay down that night quite a different man 
from what he had begun the day. 

He saw Major Rogers the next morning, and 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


learned that he was to start for New York that 
afternoon. He found so much to interest him 
in Albany that he would have been glad to pro- 
long his stay a little, but of course kept this to 
himself, and was at the place appointed ahead 
of time, all in readiness for the journey. 

To his great satisfaction he found that his trip 
down the river was to be made in a large canoe 
with four Indian paddlers, and as his travelling 
companion an English officer, Captain Lindsay, 
who also carried despatches. 

Captain Lindsay was a fine, frank, hearty 
fellow, only a few years older than Seth, whose 
genial manner won Seth’s heart at once, and he 
on his part was attracted by the handsome, 
stalwart youth who had already distinguished 
himself in active service. 

The prospects for a pleasant journey were 
therefore altogether bright, and Seth bade good- 
bye to Major Rogers in the best of spirits. 

The passage down the noble Hudson in the 
beautiful autumn weather in such congenial 
company was a delightful experience to Seth. 
Captain Lindsay was a capital talker, and held 
Seth’s attention for hours while he told of what 
he had seen and learned in other parts of the 
world, for he had been an extensive traveller; 
and then he drew Seth out as to what he had 
been through, and evinced keen interest in his 
descriptions of forest life and adventure. 

192 


AN ADVENTURE IN NEW YORK 


“ I should like to join your Rangers for a 
while,” he said. “ I wonder would Major Rogers 
have me ? ” 

“Oh, * I’m sure he would,” responded Seth 
emphatically. “ But,” he added in a quieter 
tone, “ it’s a very hard life as well as a danger- 
ous one. When we’re out on a scouting party 
we sometimes come very near starving, and we 
always have to sleep on the ground, for we never 
take tents with us.” 

“ Oh, I imagine I could stand that as well as 
the others,” returned the Captain, smiling. “ If 
I get the opportunity I must have a talk with 
your commander about it.” 

“ If you do I will say all I can in your favor,” 
said Seth, rather bashfully, whereat Captain 
Lindsay thanked him, and they both felt that 
they were better friends than ever. 

Their Indians paddled steadily and well and 
the lovely landscape slipped smoothly by as they 
glided seaward until at last the clustered roofs 
of the city came into view, and Seth’s heart beat 
high with expectation. 

“Is New York much bigger than Boston?” 
he asked of his companion. 

“ Why no,” was the answer. “ If anything, 
Boston is bigger than New York just now, al- 
though, if I’m not much mistaken, New York 
will in time become the larger city. But they 
are so different, as you will soon see for yourself, 
13 193 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


and I hardly know which you will like better, al- 
though for my own part I prefer New York, 
probably because I have many more friends 
there. By the way, have you any friend in the 
city? ” 

“ Not one. I don’t know a single person 
there,” replied Seth, rather ruefully. 

“ Then I shall have the pleasure of introduc- 
ing you to my friends,” said the Captain, beaming 
upon him. “ I ’ll see to it that you are not lonely.” 

And he was as good as his word. Knowing 
the city well, he went at once to where comfort- 
able quarters could be had, and after they had 
secured their rooms he guided Seth to the proper 
place to deliver his documents before attending 
to his own business. 

Seth was very well pleased to find that he 
would not have to return to Albany for a week, 
and under the kind direction of his accomplished 
friend he gave himself up to the enjoyment of 
his new surroundings. 

The prosperous city, already beginning to 
outgrow its Dutch quaintness, was full of inter- 
est for him, and when Captain Lindsay was 
otherwise engaged he found it easy to pass the 
time roaming around, and making acquaintance 
with the citizens, for he never hesitated about 
asking questions, and there was something so 
frank and boyish in his manner that he rarely 
failed to elicit courteous replies. 

194 


AN ADVENTURE IN NEW YORK 


Once he went with the Captain to a military 
dinner at the headquarters, and was greatly im- 
pressed by the elegance and splendor of the en- 
tertainment, which he could not help comparing 
in his mind with the bravest show they had ever 
been able to make at the forts. 

As was the custom of the time, the guests 
stayed long at table and drank deeply of the 
many varieties of wine so plentifully provided ; 
but Seth, to whom wine-drinking was an unac- 
quired habit, did not follow their example, 
confining his potations to cold water, and 
as it turned out, this was very fortunate, 
for he needed all his wits before the night 
ended. 

Captain Lindsay was enjoying himself too 
much to take measure of the wine he drank. 
As a natural consequence he rather overdid it, 
and when at last the convivial gathering broke 
up he was not just in the state to see himself 
home. 

This duty of course Seth undertook, but with 
some misgiving, for his* friend was in a very 
boisterous humor, and not at all disposed to 
take the most direct route to their lodgings. In 
fact he wanted to finish the night by kicking up 
all the rumpus he could. 

Nevertheless by dexterous management Seth 
had got him more than half the distance, when 
on turning a corner they almost ran into a knot 
i95 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


of men who were engaged in a war of words 
that evidently precluded a resort to fists. 

Captain Lindsay unintentionally lurched 
against one of the men, who turned upon him 
and demanded with a foul oath what he meant 
by striking him. 

Seth, realizing the danger of the situation, 
hastened to apologize for his companion and to 
explain that no offence was intended. 

Had the Captain only been sober he too 
would have perceived the need of diplomacy, 
since the men were manifestly roughs of the 
worst type; but the wine had stolen his wits, 
and, incensed at the man’s insulting language, 
he retorted, as he laid his hand upon his sword : 

“ How dare you speak to me like that? Do 
you want me to run you through? ” 

At the sound of his voice the other men for- 
got their quarrel, and turned to see what was 
the matter. Instantly they scented the prospect 
of a row, and drew themselves together in front 
of Captain Lindsay and Seth in a manner that 
boded no good to either. 

With a quick movement Seth pulled his 
friend back against the wall of the house so that 
they could not be attacked in the rear, and then 
whispering to him urgently, “ Let me have it, 
please,” he drew his sword from the scabbard 
and put himself in an attitude of defence. 

It was deftly done, and just in time, for the 

196 


AN ADVENTURE IN NEW YORK 


ruffian whom Captain Lindsay had jolted was 
just about to aim a blow at him with his clenched 
fist, which would certainly have felled him to 
the ground. 

Foiled for the moment he quickly pulled him- 
self together for another attempt, but Seth met 
this with the point of the sword, giving him a 
slash across the knuckles that made him retreat 
instantly, and set up a furious howl of pain as 
he frantically waved his bleeding hand. 

The sight of the flashing steel, and its effec- 
tive use upon one of their members, disconcerted 
the roughs, and they gave back before Seth as 
he swung his sword menacingly in their faces. 

This advantage, however, could be only tem- 
porary. Although happily their assailants had 
no fire-arms, some carried bludgeons, and the 
rest could quickly pick up brick-bats from the 
street with which they could bombard and batter 
the two officers out of their senses, if not to 
death. 

All this time Seth’s keen glances had been 
darting to this side and 'that in quest of some 
haven where they might take refuge; and just 
as the rowdies hesitated before his circling blade, 
he caught sight of a doorway a few yards distant 
which seemed to offer what he sought. 

“ Now then, captain,” he cried in his ear, 
grasping his arm firmly with his left hand, “This 
way for our lives.” 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


Captain Lindsay was already sufficiently 
sobered by their perilous situation to take in 
Seth’s meaning, and to obey him. Together 
they darted to the doorway, their action being 
so sudden that they had safely gained it ere the 
others realized what they were about. 


f 


198 


CHAPTER XX 


SCOUTING IN A NEW FIELD 

With a chorus of horrid oaths the ruffians 
rushed after them ; but Seth, thrusting Captain 
Lindsay into the doorway ahead of him, swung 
around and pinked the foremost fellow on the 
shoulder, causing him to fall back with a roar 
of pain, and ere the next one could come on, 
he had the heavy door closed in his face and 
his foot braced against it. 

The men on the outside were striving furi- 
ously to force the door in when a window above 
them was flung up and a night-capped head ap- 
peared with the muzzle of a big blunderbuss in 
close proximity. 

The worthy Dutch burgher, whose dwelling 
had been thus rudely invaded, aroused from his 
slumbers demanded the meaning of the uproar ; 
and getting no answer, either in his anger or in 
nervousness pulled the trigger of his clumsy 
firearm, whose charge of small shot showered 
upon the backs of the men below, inflicted 
many a painful, if not dangerous wound. 

The effect of this utterly unexpected broad- 
side certainly left nothing to be desired, for the 
199 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


startled and smitten roughs, fearing, no doubt, 
lest something worse should follow, inconti- 
nently took to their heels, and a moment later 
the street was vacant and silent save for the 
echoes of their heavy footfalls as they fled. 

Having thus disposed of the disturbers of his 
peace who were outside the door, the master of 
the house now turned his attention to those 
who were inside ; and presently appearing at the 
top of the stairs with a light in one hand and 
the blunderbuss in the other, he roared out : 

“ What do you do there ? Speak or I shoot ! ” 
whereupon Seth stepped forward, and bowing 
low, said in a most respectful tone : 

“We are two of the King’s officers, sir, who 
were set upon by the ruffians outside, and took 
refuge in your doorway, which was fortunately 
open to us.” 

The good man was mollified at once. Indeed, 
the idea of affording protection to two officers 
evidently pleased him, and he responded with a 
gratified chuckle : 

“ You are most welcome to my house, gentle- 
men. As for those scoundrels who set upon 
you, they’ve got a lesson from my old friend 
here,” and he patted his big firing-piece, “ that 
they will not soon forget, and have gone to think 
it over.” 

“Did you shoot them, sir?” asked Seth 
eagerly. 


200 


SCOUTING IN A NEW FIELD 


“ That I did. They got the whole charge 
among them,” laughed the burgher as he began 
to descend the stairs. “ It won’t kill any of 
them, but they’ll feel sore over it for a while.” 

By this time Captain Lindsay had quite re- 
covered his self-control, and when the burgher 
reached the bottom of the stairs he advanced 
and with a sweeping bow said : 

“We thank you, worthy sir, from our hearts, 
for the timely shelter your house afforded us, 
and regret having thus disturbed your rest. If 
the rascals have gone we need not trespass upon 
your kindness any longer, but will at once take 
our departure.” 

The good man made light of the matter, and 
would fain have persuaded them to remain 
under his roof until morning ; but to this they 
would not consent, and so after the exchange of 
further courtesies they took their leave, and had 
no further difficulty in reaching their lodgings. 

On the following day Seth reluctantly bade 
good-bye to New York and to his friend who 
was to remain there, and started on the return 
trip to Albany, which was made in good time 
and without special incident. 

At Albany he found that Major Rogers had 
gone to Fort Edward, leaving instructions for 
him to join him there, as that point would be 
their centre of operations for the present. 

His pleasant holiday had done him a world of 
201 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


good, and he went back to duty with renewed 
vigor and determination to fulfil his part to the 
best of his ability in the work of not only re- 
covering what had been lost, but of making such 
gains in the struggle with the French as would 
result in their ultimate abandonment of the 
whole field. 

During the autumn and the early part of the 
winter he was not long at a time idle, for Gen- 
eral Loudon had in contemplation a winter at- 
tack upon Ticonderoga, whereby the loss of Fort 
William Henry was to be avenged, and there 
was a demand for all possible information con- 
cerning the condition of the French fortress 
and the strength of its garrison. 

Poor Captain Habecourt, who was in com- 
mand at Ticonderoga, found the Rangers very 
troublesome. They seemed to have no fear of 
him whatever, and sometimes were audacious 
enough to come up to the very ramparts. 

One midwinter day they captured two soldiers 
within sight of the fort, and killed a number of 
cattle, leaving tied to the horns of one of them 
a note addressed to the commandant in these 
saucy terms : 

“ I am obliged to you, sir, for the rest you 
have allowed me to take and the fresh meat you 
have sent me. I shall take good care of my 
prisoners. My compliments to the Marquis of 
Montcalm. Rogers/’ 


802 


SCOUTING IN A NEW FIELD 


Seth took a particular interest in the winter’s 
work because of the understanding that it was 
by way of preparation for the attack which 
would be made ere spring; and consequently 
he felt greatly disappointed when the design 
was abandoned, and the information gathered at 
the cost of so much danger and hardship not 
put to any account. 

In the course of a talk with Major Rogers he 
opened his mind freely, and expressed in pretty 
strong terms his opinion of the authorities who 
were so liable to change their plans, and so 
slow to carry out anything they did decide 
upon. 

“ Perhaps you should like to try another field,” 
remarked the Major, giving him a shrewd look, 
while the suspicion of a smile curved the corners 
of his strong mouth. 

There was a significance in his tone that Seth 
did not miss, and he bent his eyes earnestly 
upon the veteran as he exclaimed : 

“In another field? How do you mean? 
What chance have I to be anywhere else? ” 

“ Well, that depends,” responded the Major, 
the enigmatical smile becoming more pro- 
nounced. “ Have you ever heard of Fort Du- 
quesne ? 

“ Of course I have, answered Seth. “ It’s 
over there in the West, and it’s doing an im- 
mense amount of harm.” 

203 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


“ Right you are, my son ; and what would you 
think of joining an expedition to attack it? ” 

“ Nothing would suit me better,” cried Seth, 
springing to his feet, and standing before the 
Major with his face all in a glow. “ Are you 
going, sir? And can I go with you? ” 

“ No, Seth, I am not going myself,” was the 
reply, uttered in a grave tone as of regret. “ I 
am needed too much here; but there’s nothing 
to prevent you going if you want to do so, al- 
though I confess I shall be sorry to lose you.” 

He then went on to explain that at last it had 
been determined to attack Fort Duquesne, the 
French stronghold in the West, which was a 
veritable hornet’s nest ; that a strong force was 
shortly to be sent against it, starting from Phila- 
delphia, and that a request had been made for a 
detachment of Rangers to act as scouts in ad- 
vance of the main body. 

“ It is likely that a score of my men will go in 
answer to this request,” he continued ; “ and if 
you would like to go in command of them, Seth, 
you have only to say the word.” 

“Then I say it,” responded Seth promptly. 
“ It doesn’t look as if there was going to be 
much done here for some time; and I’d rather 
be on active service than idling about.” 

“ You may consider the matter settled, then,” 
said the Major. “ I will tell you more definitely 
about the arrangements in a day or two.” 

204 


SCOUTING IN A NEW FIELD 


Seth went back to his room that night highly 
elated at the prospect before him, and full of 
gratitude to his good friend, Major Rogers, who 
had thus given him the first chance of accepting 
the commission. 

“ He seems to have no lack of faith in me,” 
he mused. “ I shall do my best not to disap- 
point him.” 

A few days later he set out for Philadelphia 
with his company of twenty men, carefully 
chosen by Major Rogers, who considered that 
they had the reputation of the Rangers in their 
keeping, and gave them many a sage injunction 
as he parted from them. 

Naturally enough Seth felt very proud of his 
responsibility, for, although he would of course 
be under the command of others, still the very 
nature of the service he had to render was such 
as to leave him much freedom of judgment and 
action, and the rest of the Rangers would take 
all their orders from him as their supreme officer. 

On reaching Philadelphia, and reporting to 
Brigadier Forbes, who was charged with the 
command of the expedition, he was ordered to 
go on to Raystown in the Alleghany mountains, 
whither the advance guard had already pro- 
ceeded. 

Here he found several thousand men hard at 
work digging entrenchments, and setting up 
palisades as though they meant to remain per- 

205 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


manently. There were Virginians in hunting- 
shirts, Highlanders in kilt and plaid, and Royal 
Americans in the regulation scarlet, and they 
were all of one mind in grumbling at their Gen- 
eral for keeping them toiling with pick and spade 
instead of hurrying them on to attack the 
fort. 

The truth was, a difficulty had arisen about 
the route to be taken, some being of opinion 
that they should proceed in a direct course to 
Fort Duquesne, hewing a new road through the 
forest; and others, that the best way was to 
march to Fort Cumberland, and thence follow 
the road made by the ill-fated Braddock. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Bouguet was in command 
at Raystown, and under instructions from him 
Seth went on to Fort Cumberland with a mes- 
sage for its commandant, who was no other than 
George Washington, already risen to the rank 
of colonel, although but twenty-six years of age. 

Little did Seth imagine when he presented 
himself to the tall, sinewy officer with the strong, 
serene countenance, that he was talking with the 
man destined in the course of years to be called 
“ The Father of his Country,” and to win an 
unquestioned place among the heroes of the 
world. 

He found him very gracious in his manner; 
and, after the message had been duly delivered 
and acknowledged, much interested in the opera- 

206 


SCOUTING IN A NEW FIELD 


tions at Lake George and Lake Champlain, con- 
cerning which he asked him many questions. 

“ The fame of Rogers’ Rangers has reached 
us in Virginia,” he said, “ and I am very glad 
we are to have the help of a few of you in our 
present campaign. There will be plenty for 
you to do, I am sure, before our work is finished.” 

He then went on to speak about the route 
which should be followed. 

“ I am quite clear in my own mind that the 
right thing in every respect will be to take the 
same way as Braddock did. It will save a great 
deal of time and labor, and having been taught 
wisdom by the awful fate of Braddock’s expedi- 
tion, we are not likely to fall into the same trap.” 

Seth was a good listener, and the respectful 
attention paid by him to Colonel Washington 
made a most favorable impression upon the lat- 
ter, who said to him on parting as he warmly 
shook his hand : 

“ I hope to meet you again, Ensign Allen ; it 
is plain to me that you can render us very valu- 
able service, and I trust that you will have the 
good fortune to get through this campaign un- 
harmed.” 

Seth thanked him heartily for his courtesy 
and good wishes, and left him with the feeling 
that this was the sort of leader under whom he 
would like to serve. He accordingly felt very 
much disappointed when, in spite of Washing- 

207 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


ton’s earnest protests and plea for the other 
route, it was decided to cut a new road through 
the forest, because it would be shorter, and when 
once made would form a readier line of commu- 
nication, although to make it would consume a 
vast amount of time and labor. 

Brigadier Forbes being in total ignorance of 
the strength of the enemy, and what they were 
doing, Seth received instructions to go forward 
with a scouting party and gain all the informa- 
tion possible. In addition to his own men he 
was given a number of Indians, principally Cher- 
okees and Catawbas, whom he would have been 
just as well pleased to do without, but his opin- 
ion was not asked in the matter. 

The country through which he had to make 
his way was one vast wilderness of trees and 
brushwood without a trace of human habitation, 
as trackless as the ocean itself, so that Seth, who 
instinctively distrusted the Indians, and relied 
upon them as little as possible, found he needed 
all his knowledge of wood-craft and experience 
in pathfinding to prevent his going astray. 

It was also necessary to take the utmost pre- 
caution against being ambushed by the French 
or their Indian allies, the Hurons, Miamis and 
Pottawatomis, who might get knowledge of their 
movements and manage to waylay them. 

Nevertheless the scouting party made good 
progress through the stern and silent maze, and 

208 


















t 









































\ 































NOW THE PALE-FACED CHIEFTAIN CANNOT BE KILLED 





SCOUTING IN A NEW FIELD 


without being discovered reached the neighbor- 
hood of Fort Duquesne. 

Here the Indians declared that they would go 
no farther until they had duly performed certain 
mystic ceremonies which would protect the 
whole party against mishap. 

Seth was inclined at first to make light of 
their request, but on second thoughts considered 
it best to humor them, and so the Rangers 
gravely joined in the proceedings. 

Having painted themselves in startling style 
and practised certain incantations, the meaning 
of which was lost upon their white brethren, the 
Indians then gathered close about their chief, 
who held an otter-skin bag from which he took 
various charms, and tied them about the necks 
of the others. 

The bag itself, much to Seth’s surprise, he 
hung upon his neck, saying with utmost solem- 
nity: 

“ Now the pale-faced chieftain cannot be 
killed. The bullets of the enemy will be 
turned away by the medicine at his neck. He 
will be safe no matter how many shoot at 
him.” 

It was said with such entire sincerity that in 
spite of himself Seth could not help feeling im- 
pressed, and he thanked the chief warmly, say- 
ing as he shook his hand : 

“ You are very kind to give me this medicine. 

1 4 2,09 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


I will take good care of it, and I hope it will 
take good care of me.” 

Thus armed against fate the party then 
resumed its cautious advance toward the 
fort. 


210 


CHAPTER XXI 


AN EASY TRIUMPH 

Had the neighborhood of Fort Duquesne 
been overrun with scouts as was that of Ticon- 
deroga, the presence of Seth’s party could hardly 
have remained unknown, but there was not at 
all the same vigilance exercised, and conse- 
quently the venturesome intruders upon hostile 
ground were able to make their way un- 
challenged to an eminence afterward called 
Grant’s Hill, where, well hidden by trees and 
bushes, they could look right down upon the 
fort. 

Now the Indians had been reporting to the 
English commander that the French were very 
strong, in fact that their numbers quite equalled 
if they did not surpass* his, but after Seth had 
scrutinized the place he exclaimed : 

“ Those rascally Indians have been lying, as 
usual. The French are nothing like as strong 
as we are. If our men were only here now we 
could take the fort easily. What a pity they’re 
not! And at the rate they’re getting ahead 
they won’t be here for months. If only Colonel 
Washington had his way things would be differ- 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


ent. But it’s the old story. I’m sick of the 
slow way they have of doing things.” 

He had good reason to feel impatient. The 
work of road-making through the dense forest 
was exceedingly heavy and tedious. Over the 
main range of the Alleganies, hewing, digging, 
blasting, laying fascines and gabions to support 
the track along the sides of steep declivities, or 
worming their way like moles through the jun- 
gle of swamp and forest, the soldiers toiled at 
their tremendous task while the weeks went by, 
whereas if the Braddock route had been followed 
their progress would have been comparatively 
rapid. 

Not satisfied with having got a very good idea 
of the French fortress and of the strength of its 
garrison, Seth had it in mind to take back with 
him a prisoner or two, as Major Rogers was 
wont to do whenever possible, and so, instead of 
setting out at once on the return journey, he 
moved from the hill and lay in ambush by the 
road leading northward from the fort. 

“We mustn’t be in a hurry to let our presence 
be known,” he told his men. “ If the French 
get the alarm we may be cut off and captured. 
So we’ll keep as quiet as possible until we see a 
good chance of taking a prisoner.” 

They had not long to wait, for that same 
afternoon appeared a small party of soldiers sent 

out by the Commandant de Leignerie to see if 
212 


AN EASY TRIUMPH 


there were any signs of the approach of the re- 
inforcements and provisions which he expected 
from Canada, and which were now overdue. 

They were in a gay mood, joking and laugh- 
ing with each other, being evidently well pleased 
at getting away from the confinement of the 
fort for a little outing. 

“ Let them go on a bit,” whispered Seth to 
his men waiting for the signal to rush upon the 
unsuspecting soldiers. “The farther they are 
from the fort the better. We’ll follow them 
close.” 

Not until they had gone another mile was the 
command given, and then the Rangers dashed 
out of the woods upon the startled Frenchmen 
with such suddenness that they had not time to 
lift their guns to their shoulders, and were easily 
made prisoners, with one exception. 

This was the officer in charge of them, a stal- 
wart youth with a sinister countenance, who 
whipped out his sword at the first alarm, and 
made a slash at Seth that would have cleft his 
skull, had he not cleverly parried it with the 
barrel of his musket. 

Before the Frenchman could recover himself 
for another stroke Seth drove the muzzle of his 
musket into his ribs, knocking the wind out of 
him so that he went down in a heap on the 
road, groaning with pain. 

If Seth’s object had been to kill, the whole 
213 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


party might have been despatched without diffi- 
culty, but it was not in his heart to take their 
lives when they were at his mercy. Even the 
officer who had come pretty near putting an 
end to him he had no thought of doing away 
with. 

Yet now that he had the prisoners he was in 
a considerable quandary as to their disposition, 
for they were too many to take them all back 
with him, while if he set some of them free they 
would of course make all haste back to the fort 
and rouse the garrison to pursuit. 

After puzzling over the problem for some 
minutes he saw no other way out of the diffi- 
culty than to adopt the expedient of releasing 
all but two of the soldiers, on their taking oath 
not to return to the fort for twenty-four hours, 
which would allow the Rangers ample time to 
get beyond all possibilty of pursuit. 

The two prisoners he retained were the officer 
and one of the soldiers, with whom he now hast- 
ened back, feeling, as he well might, well satis- 
fied with the success of his enterprise. 

The officer proved sulkily silent, and no infor- 
mation could be extracted from him, but the sol- 
dier made amends by being very communica- 
tive, and freely answering Seth’s questions, 
whereby it was made clear that Fort Duquesne 
would prove an easy conquest if the attack upon 
it could only be made promptly. 

214 


AN EASY TRIUMPH 


When Colonel Washington heard this, he was 
all the more put out that his advice in regard to 
the route had not been adopted. 

“ It is really too bad,” he said, his troubled 
countenance showing how deep was his con- 
cern, “ that Brigadier Forbes should have been 
persuaded to take the longest way to the fort. 
But it is too late now to change the plan. We 
must only carry it out as best we can. I am 
sure that when he hears your report he will feel 
bound to admit that my counsel should have 
been followed.” 

Seth had by this time come to have such an 
admiration for Washington that he was ready 
to accept unquestioningly any opinion he might 
hold, and it made him quite wrathy to think 
that the views of so able a leader should not 
prevail. 

He showed this spirit so plainly in presenting 
his report as to bring upon himself a sharp re- 
buke from the commander-in-chief, who, being a 
somewhat testy Scotchman with a good opinion 
of himself, did not take kindly to having his 
wisdom questioned by a mere youth. 

“ You presume too much, young sir,” he said, 
in a tone of manifest irritation. “ Your business 
is simply to give an accurate report of what you 
had ascertained. You have nothing to do with 
what we may see fit to determine upon.” 

Seth flushed deeply, and was tempted to re- 
215 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


tort that when what he had learned went to 
show so plainly that no time should be lost he 
felt bound to say so, but his better sense pre- 
vailed, and he accepted the reproof in silence. 

Thenceforward the tedious work of piercing 
the wilderness went steadily on, but it was well 
into November ere the English force had got 
near enough to Fort Duquesne to prepare for 
striking the first blow. 

Washington had opened the way by cutting 
a road to within a day’s march of the fort, and 
in order that the advance might be as rapid as 
possible, no artillery save a few light pieces was 
taken. 

On the evening of the twenty-fourth of No- 
vember the English force, which consisted of 
twenty-five hundred picked men without tents 
or baggage, and carrying only knapsacks and 
blankets, encamped by Turkey Creek in readi- 
ness to attempt the attack on the following day. 

Brigadier Forbes, although suffering so from 
sickness that he had to be carried on a litter, 
was in command, and with him were Colonels 
Washington, Bouquet, and Montgomery, while 
the detachment was made up of Royal Ameri- 
cans, Highlanders, and Provincial troops. 

Their progress had hitherto been unopposed, 
but this was no guarantee that they might not 
find the French blocking their way. 

About midnight the camp was aroused by the 
216 


AN EASY TRIUMPH 


sound of a heavy explosion that came booming 
over the western woods. 

What could it mean? Had a magazine ex- 
ploded by accident at the fort, or was it possible 
that the French were blowing up their works in 
despair of being able to defend them ? 

Seth determined that he would lose no time 
in finding out, and by break of day he was off 
with his Rangers at a pace they only could main- 
tain through the leafless forest until they came 
out upon the open plain in which stood Fort 
Duquesne. 

“ Deserted and destroyed, as I live ! ” Seth 
cried as with one swift glance he took in the 
state of affairs. “ Not a Frenchman left and 
the whole place in ruins. Well, I declare, and 
what will our folks think of it? I shouldn’t 
wonder if they’ll be not a little disappointed.” 

There was not a sign of life about the place, 
and after a hasty examination of the premises 
Seth, leaving most of his men on guard in case 
some of the Indians should attempt to loot 
the place, made all haste back to the main 
body. 

Half way thither he met Colonel Washington 
at the head of his regiment of Provincials, and 
told him what had taken place. 

“ I am not at all surprised,” he said in his 
calm way. “ In fact I should have been more 

surprised had the French made any defence, 
217 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


but I am sorry that they have destroyed the 
fort, as it would have been useful to us in the 
future. However, there’s no helping it now. 
You again have the pleasure to be the bearer of 
good news, Ensign Allen. I trust it may always 
be your fortune.” 

Seth thanked him for his kind words, and 
continued on his way until he came to the litter 
of the suffering General, to whom he reported 
what he had seen.” 

“ Ah, ha ! ” he exclaimed, “ and so they have 
run off like curs after first blowing up the fort. 
Drat them, I wish they had stayed long enough 
to let us have a crack at them. They owe us a 
long score which now we’ll have no chance to 
make them pay. Tut, tut, it’s very provoking,” 
and so he went on, fully confirming Seth’s 
shrewd anticipation. 

The work of destruction was so complete, the 
barracks and storehouses being burned to the 
ground, and the fortifications blown up, that the 
victors could make no use of what was left, and 
to provide defence and shelter for those of their 
number on whom the dangerous task was to fall 
of keeping what had been won, were compelled 
to plant a stockade around a cluster of traders’ 
cabins and soldiers’ huts which had been left 
intact. 

This temporary apology for a fort Forbes 
called Pittsburg, in honor of the Prime Minis- 

2I§ 


AN EASY TRIUMPH 


ter, William Pitt, and it was the germ of the 
great city of the present day. 

A small garrison of Provincial troops having 
been left to hold Pittsburg for the winter, the 
remainder of the force returned to Philadelphia, 
having achieved a solid, if not brilliant, success, 
for the conquest of Fort Duquesne opened the 
Great West to English enterprise, took from 
France one-half of her savage allies, and relieved 
the western borders of the provinces from the 
awful scourge of Indian war, so that from South- 
ern New York to North Carolina the frontier 
people had good reason to bless the names of 
the steadfast and much enduring soldier, Briga- 
dier Forbes, and his loyal assistants, Colonels 
Washington and Bouquet. 

Seeing no prospect of further service there in 
the near future, Seth with his Rangers went back 
to Fort Edward, where they found Major Rogers 
and the rest of the men at their old work, but 
impatiently looking forward to an active and 
eventful campaign when the winter had passed 
away. 

Seth’s greeting from his chief could not have 
been more cordial. 

“ I am right glad to see you back, my boy,” 
he exclaimed as he gave a warm grasp of the 
hand, “and I’m curious to hear all about your 
doings down South. I hope you kept up the 

credit of the Rangers.” 

219 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


“ I’ll leave you to judge of that after you’ve 
heard what I have to tell,” Seth responded 
archly, and then he proceeded to give an ac- 
count of his experiences. 

The Major listened with lively interest, asking 
many a question, and making frequent com- 
ments. He evidently enjoyed the recital until 
Seth came to speak about Colonel Washington, 
and then his ardent admiration for the Virginia 
officer seemed to displease him, and he broke 
in with: 

“What makes you think so much of that 

man? What great things has he done, any 
>> 

way? 

Seth, not perceiving that the question was 
prompted by a spirit of jealousy which he had 
roused, for Major Rogers was one who could 
not brook a divided allegiance, made haste to 
take Washington’s part, and before he realized 
it found himself involved in a controversy that 
threatened to grow uncomfortably warm, so for 
fear of giving offence to his friend he ceased 
arguing the matter, and started off on another 
track. 

But his eyes were opened, and he took care 
not to mention the name of Washington to the 
Major again. 

A few days after his return he received the 
gratifying news of his promotion to the rank of 
lieutenant, which made him very happy, and all 


AN EASY TRIUMPH 


the more eager for the renewal of active hostili- 
ties in order that he might have the opportunity 
of achieving further advance, for it was the am- 
bition of his heart to become a captain, and 
have command of a troop of Rangers. 

While he was away on the Fort Duquesne 
expedition General Abercrombie had made a 
futile attempt to take Ticonderoga, and had 
then withdrawn his forces and gone into winter 
quarters. The French at the other end of the 
lake had done the same, and only an occasional 
scouting party kept alive the embers of war. 

Montcalm, who commanded the French, from 
time to time sent out war parties to harass his 
opponents, and one of them under La Carne 
succeeded in surprising and destroying a large 
wagon train. 

When General Abercrombie heard of it he 
ordered Major Rogers to take a strong party of 
Rangers and Provincials, and to go in pursuit 
of the enemy. As a matter of course Seth went 
with him. 


CHAPTER XXII 

AT CLOSE GRIPS WITH DEATH 

Major Rogers’ force on this occasion was 
the largest he had thus far commanded, com- 
prising as it did a big body of Connecticut men, 
and a small detachment of regulars, chiefly light 
infantry, bringing the total up to seven hundred 
in all. 

They marched through the forest to where 
Whitehall now stands, and thence made their 
way up Wood Creek to old Fort Anne, long 
abandoned and falling into decay. Here in the 
already overgrown clearing that surrounded the 
ruin they encamped. 

Up to this time Rogers had observed his usual 
caution, commanding silence on the march, and 
forbidding fires at night, but having discovered 
no signs of the enemy, and led into over-confi- 
dence, perhaps, by the unusual strength of his 
party, he was rash enough to accept a wager 
with one of the officers of the light infantry as 
to which was the best marksman, and the follow- 
ing morning was set for the trial of skill. 

When &th learned of this he was much trou- 
bled, for although he had not come upon any 
222 


AT CLOSE GRIPS WITH DEATH 


trace of the enemy, he somehow had a convic- 
tion that they were not far away, and he ven- 
tured to suggest to his chief that it might not be 
wise to have musket firing until the neighbor- 
hood had been more thoroughly examined. 

But the Major took his remonstrance amiss. 

“ When I wish your advice I will ask you for 
it, young man,” he said, with an asperity of tone 
that made Seth’s countenance redden. “ I am 
quite sure there are no French or Indians with- 
in cannon sound of us, so you need give 
yourself no concern about what I propose to 
do.” 

Seth knew that it was vain to argue the mat- 
ter, and said no more, although the foreboding 
of approaching disaster grew stronger through 
the night. 

Soon after daylight the shooting match took 
place, and Major Rogers proved an easy victor, 
but the triumph, which evidently gave him great 
satisfaction, was obtained at a fearful cost, for 
the sound of the shots reached the ears of a 
large band of French and Indians under com- 
mand of the famous partisan Marin, who at once 
took steps to reconnoitre and ambuscade his 
reckless enemy. 

All around the old fort the forest had formerly 
been cut down and burned, but during the long 
years of neglect the opening thus maile became 
overgrown with bushes and saplings so densely 

223 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


as to be impassable save where a narrow Indian 
path traversed it. 

Along this path Major Rogers and his men 
were forced to march in single file, and so soon 
as the shooting contest was settled they slung 
their packs and set out. 

The Connecticut men were in the lead, then 
came the regulars, and the Rangers brought up 
the rear. 

Never in his life before had Seth felt so de- 
pressed in spirits, although he could in no wise 
account to himself for it. 

“ I’m sure there’s trouble coming,” he said to 
the Ranger who walked next him. “ I do wish 
they hadn’t been firing at the mark. The sound 
of their guns will go far this still morning.” 

The words had hardly left his lips when the 
noise of rapid firing came over the tops of the 
bushes, and he exclaimed excitedly: 

“I knew it! I knew it! The French have 
ambushed us. Quick now to the front! ” 

And he dashed off through the brushwood, 
followed by his men. They had, of course, great 
difficulty in making their way, although the yells 
of Indians mingling with the reports of the mus- 
kets made clear to them that Seth’s surmise as 
to what had taken place was correct, and they 
were wild to get to the assistance of their imper- 
illed comrades. 

What had happened was this: When the 

224 


AT CLOSE GRIPS WITH DEATH 


head of the line emerged from the tangled shrub- 
bery, and was about to enter the forest there 
broke forth a horrid chorus of savage yells, 
and suddenly the place became alive with 
Indians. 

One of them, a huge Caughnawaga chief, with 
uplifted hatchet sprang at the foremost of the 
English, who threw up his gun, and pulled trig- 
ger. But unhappily it missed fire, and the next 
moment he fell with cloven skull. 

Then the firing began. The French and the 
Indians, lying across the path in a semicircle, 
had the double advantage of surprise and of po- 
sition, and the Connecticut men at first fell back 
among the bushes in disorder, but presently ral- 
lied, and held their opponents in check until the 
regulars and Rangers could force their way 
through the thickets to their support. 

So dense was the brushwood that it was only 
after much loss of time and with great difficulty 
that the English were able to assume some kind 
of order in front of the enemy, and even then 
each man was forced to fight for himself as best 
he could. 

The fulfilment of his foreboding cast no spell 
over Seth’s courage. He plunged into the con- 
flict as though he bore a charmed life, and many 
an Indian fell at the crack of his gun. 

Yet with the wisdom of the true woodsman 
he did not expose himself unnecessarily, but took 
15 22 5 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


advantage to the utmost of such cover as their 
position afforded. 

The fusillade continued for nearly two hours 
with heavy loss on both sides, but without the 
combatants coming to close quarters, as the 
French evidently feared a hand-to-hand strug- 
gle, and the English leaders, having no idea of 
the actual strength of their assailants, did not 
deem it prudent to attempt to charge upon 
them. 

The fierce and bloody conflict was at its 
height when Seth, moving forward to get a bet- 
ter position for shooting, suddenly found him- 
self face to face with three Indians, who had 
crept upon him through the underbrush. 

His gun was empty, and he had no time to 
reload it, but he felled one of the savages with 
the butt, and was about to treat another in the 
same fashion when the third sprang at him and 
tripping him cleverly, flung him heavily to the 
ground, where both threw themselves on him, 
and pinned him fast. 

They were powerful braves, and, although 
Seth struggled frantically to free himself, they 
soon had his hands bound with thongs which 
hurt cruelly, and rendered him helpless. 

Then, each seizing an arm, they rushed him 
to the rear of their own line, where they lashed 
him to a tree so that he could not move a limb. 

All this time Seth had not spoken. He knew 

226 



IT WAS A TERRIBLE ORDEAL FOR SETH 






























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V 
























1 





























* 

























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AT CLOSE GRIPS WITH DEATH 


how vain was any appeal for mercy, and steeled 
his heart for the torture that was sure to be his 
fate. 

Having secured him to the tree, his captors, 
letting the battle take care of itself, proceeded 
to amuse themselves in characteristic fashion by 
throwing their tomahawks at Seth’s head with 
the idea of seeing which could come closest to 
without actually striking their living target. 

It was fine fun for the dusky fiends no doubt, 
but it was a terrible ordeal for Seth, and yet the 
brave fellow hardly blinked as the cruel steel 
flashed past his eyes, and buried itself in the 
tree with a vicious thud, sometimes severing a 
stray lock of his hair in its flight. 

Nor were the redskins the only ones to act 
thus inhumanly, for when they had wearied of 
their amusement, a French officer came up, who 
after assailing the helpless captive with vigorous 
abuse, thrust the muzzle of his gun violently 
against his body, pretending to fire it, and then 
struck him in the face with the butt, inflicting 
a painful bruise. 

Still Seth maintained his stoical silence, for he 
had determined that although they should tear 
him to pieces, or burn him with slow fire, they 
should not extort from him any sign or sound 
of weakness. 

When the retreat began the Indians unloosed 
Seth from the tree, stripped him of nearly all 
227 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


his clothing, bound his wrists together so tightly 
that the pain was intense, and then placing upon 
his bare back as many of the packs of their 
wounded as could be piled up, they hurried him 
along until at last in sheer exhaustion he fell to 
the ground, and could not move despite the 
blows showered upon him. 

He might have been despatched there and 
then had not a French officer, moved to com- 
passion by his desperate plight, persuaded the 
Indians to untie his hands, and lighten his 
crushing burden. They also gave him a pair of 
moccasins to protect his lacerated feet, from 
which they had taken his shoes and stockings. 

His misery being thus somewhat mitigated, 
Seth was able to go on and to stagge^r under 
his load until his captors encamped for the 
night. 

But cruelly as he had suffered already there 
was worse yet to come, for, having removed the 
last vestige of clothing, they tied him to a tree, 
and set to work to surround him with brush- 
wood. 

“ Merciful Heaven, they are going to burn 
me ! ” he groaned. “ If they would only kill me 
first! How can I stand the terrible torture?” 

Nevertheless he nerved himself to bear the 
awful ordeal, not deigning to utter a cry for 
mercy. 

The savages were evidently impressed by his 

228 


AT CLOSE GRIPS WITH DEATH 


heroic bearing, and delayed lighting the wood, 
while they danced about him, brandishing their 
tomahawks in his face, and trying to make him 
flinch from their pretended blows. 

In the midst of their fiendish frolicking there 
fell a sudden shower of rain which soaked the 
wood so that it would not light, and this seemed 
to offer some hope of a respite for their victim. 
But no sooner had the rain ceased than the 
merciless wretches resumed their horrid prepa- 
rations, and this time succeeded in surrounding 
him with a circle of brushwood which they set 
on fire, and then yelled and danced before him 
in delight at his vain endeavors to avoid the ris- 
ing flames. 

His case certainly seemed desperate to the 
last degree. Thus far he had held the hope that 
his tormentors might stop short of taking his 
life in order to carry him back to Canada as a 
trophy of their prowess, but when the fire began 
to scorch his naked limbs he gave himself up to 
despair. 

The flames were climbing to his waist. A 
few more minutes and it would have been all 
over with him, when into the midst of the danc- 
ing, yelling crowd there burst a stalwart figure 
shouting in French: 

“You red devils, what are you about? How 
dare you torture one of our prisoners like that 
and disgrace us all ? If I had known what you 

229 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


were about I would have put a stop to it before 
this.” 

It was Marin, the Canadian leader of the war 
party, who, on hearing what was taking place, 
had with courageous humanity rushed to the 
scene, determined to interpose at all hazards. 

Nor was he content with upbraiding the Indi- 
ans for their cruelty, but dashed at the blazing 
brushwood, tore it .away from Seth, cut his 
bonds with a slash of his knife, and dragged 
him out of danger. 

The whole thing was done so quickly and in 
so dauntless a fashion that the savages were 
completely taken back, and when Marin, hav- 
ing berated them further, placed Seth under the 
protection of a Caughnawaga chief, who pro- 
mised to be responsible for him, they acquiesced 
in the arrangement without a murmur. 

The Caughnawaga accepted the trust reposed 
in him, and at first seemed disposed to treat 
Seth kindly, but the means he took to insure 
the prisoner not attempting his escape, while 
certainly effective, were by no means considerate 
of his comfort, seeing that he stretched him on 
the ground in the form of a St. Andrew’s cross 
with his wrists and ankles fastened to the stems 
of young trees. 

Nor was he satisfied with this, but must needs 
place brushwood upon his body, and across it 
long slender saplings on the ends of which sev- 

230 


AT CLOSE GRIPS WITH DEATH 


eral warriors lay down to sleep, so that Seth 
could not make the slightest movement without 
rousing them. 

The misery of that night may hardly be con- 
ceived, since in addition to all the physical suf- 
fering, the proud, sensitive nature of the New 
Englander writhed as he realized what an utterly 
ludicrous figure he presented. 

Next day after a painful march he reached 
Fort Ticonderoga, and was taken before Mont- 
calm, who asked him a number of questions 
about the strength of the English forces, and 
their plans for the future. 

But he got little light from Seth, who, thor- 
oughly understanding the purpose of the exam- 
ination, either evaded the questions, or firmly 
refused to reply to them, even though the 
French commander threatened to have him tor- 
tured if he did not answer in the way desired. 

The end of it was that Montcalm, finding he 
could elicit nothing fronv him, ordered him to 
be sent up to Montreal as a prisoner of war. 


231 


CHAPTER XXIII 


OUT OF CAPTIVITY INTO ACTION AGAIN 

It was many days before Seth recovered from 
what he had endured at the hands of the Indi- 
ans, and some of his injuries left scars which he 
bore for the remainder of his life. 

At Montreal he found a number of his fellow- 
countrymen in the same plight as himself. 
They were fairly well treated, but of course kept 
under constant surveillance, and allowed little 
liberty of movement, so that their life soon be- 
came very monotonous, and each one of them 
cherished his own hopes of escape. 

Now and again attempts were made, but they 
proved for the most part failures, the vigilance 
of the French and the incessant activity of the 
Indians rendering it wellnigh impossible to get 
safely away. 

Of course Seth had no sooner recovered his 
strength than he likewise set his ingenuity to 
work upon the problem of regaining his free- 
dom, but rack his brains as he might he could 
devise no scheme that seemed feasible, while the 
days grew into weeks, and the weeks into 
months of maddening monotony. 

232 


OUT OF CAPTIVITY INTO ACTION 

“ I believe I’ll go out of my mind if I don’t 
get free soon,” he said to one of his companions 
in captivity. “Just to think of all that’s going 
on, and we have no hand in it. We might as 
well be dead and buried for all the good we are.” 

No wonder, indeed, if this forced inaction told 
hard upon the prisoners, and particularly upon 
those of them like Seth, whose delight it was to be 
in active service no matter how dangerous, as in 
their durance vile there reached them rumors of 
the tremendous effort England was putting 
forth to conquer Canada, and stirring accounts 
of the vast fleet which was pushing its way up 
the St. Lawrence River for the taking of 
Quebec. Nearly the whole force of the colony 
had been brought together at the threatened 
capital, where both Vaudreuil and Montcalm 
were making all possible preparations to meet 
the invaders, and Seth raged against the fate 
which kept him out of the arena of action, until 
at last he grew so desperate as to be ready to 
seize upon the wildest scheme for escape. 

Such was his mood when all unexpectedly 
there came to him the chance he craved. Dur- 
ing the early days of his imprisonment he had 
had the opportunity of doing a service for the 
wife of one of his guards, and thereby won her 
gratitude. 

She had come from his own Province, and in 
Spite of having lived many years in Canada her 
233 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


heart still held a warm corner for her country- 
men. Although Seth knew nothing of it he 
had been much in the good woman’s mind, and 
she was possessed with the idea of enabling him 
to escape, but wisely kept her own counsel 
about it until the opportunity offered. Then 
she surprised him by taking him aside, and say- 
ing in a significant tone : 

“Are you tired of being a prisoner here? ” 

“ Of course I am,” responded Seth, emphati- 
cally. “Tired to death of it. I don’t know 
what I’ll do if I can’t manage to get out of this 
somehow.” 

“ You would like to make your escape, then ? ” 
continued the woman. 

Seth laughed bitterly as he answered : 

“Why do you ask me that? You know as 
well as I do that I would give anything on earth 
to escape, and be with my men again.” 

The woman smiled at his earnestness. 

' “If I were to show you how you might escape, 
what would you do?” 

Seth’s face lit up, and his eyes dilated. He 
was about to say that he would do anything in 
the world for her, and then he checked himself, 
for the humiliating thought came that he, a 
poor penniless prisoner — did not have it in his 
power to reward her at all. 

She quite understood how it was, and went 
on to say: “ Do not mind about that. I meant 
234 


OUT OF CAPTIVITY INTO ACTION 


nothing. If I do help you to escape it will be 
because you come from my own country, and I 
shall not want anything from you.” 

She then proceeded to explain herself, and 
Seth listened with every nerve a-quiver. 

It seemed that preparations were being made 
to send more soldiers down to Quebec by the 
river, and that a number of canoes duly sup- 
plied with stores were ready for the start in the 
morning. If Seth could contrive to get off with 
one of these canoes he might make his way 
down the river to where the English were en- 
camped on the shore opposite Quebec. 

Seth heard her with indescribable delight. 
The dangers and difficulties of the undertaking 
were as naught in his eyes, and he poured out 
his gratitude in the strongest words he could 
command. 

Of course he could not make the venture 
alone. He must needs have a companion to 
help him in paddling the canoe. 

But there could be no difficulty about that ; 
one of his fellow-prisoners, Lieutenant Putnam 
of Connecticut, would be only too glad to join 
him, and, having arranged with the woman to 
meet her at midnight, he went off with bound- 
ing heart to find Putnam, and tell him the good 
news. 

Putnam was at first inclined to suspect some 
trap. 


235 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


“ It seems too good to be true,” he said doubt- 
fully. 

“Not a bit of it,” replied Seth. “Tm sure 
the woman is to be trusted, and if you feel like 
holding back, why just say so, and I’ll get some- 
body else.” 

But Putnam at once declared his readiness to 
share the venture, and they proceeded to per- 
fect their plans. 

The night proved favorable in every particu- 
lar. It was very dark and still, and had it not 
been for the woman’s perfect familiarity with 
the premises they could never have found their 
way to the landing-place where the canoes were 
drawn up. 

Happily the sentries had fallen asleep, and 
there was no one to challenge them when they 
pushed off, after whispering their gratitude to 
the good woman who had so signally befriended 
them. 

Out into the swift current they sent the canoe, 
and as they sped down stream their hearts beat 
high with hope, and they would have sung for 
joy had they dared. 

“ Isn’t this wonderful? ” Seth exclaimed when 
they were well out into the river. “ After all 
our months of waiting for a chance to escape to 
have it come to us in this way! It seems like a 
dream.” 

“ Thank Heaven it’s a reality,” responded 
236 


OUT OF CAPTIVITY INTO ACTION 


Putnam fervently. “And if we do reach the 
camp all right we may perhaps be in time to 
have a share in the taking of Quebec.” 

They paddled strongly and steadily until day- 
break, and then sought out a secluded cove 
where they could go into hiding for the day. 

There was no difficulty in this, the shores of 
the St. Lawrence being densely wooded, and 
they soon had their canoe concealed amongst 
the trees where no passer-by could discover it. 

They slept soundly during the greater part of 
the day and as they were enjoying a hearty sup- 
per they saw a flotilla of canoes hastening down 
river. 

“ That’s where our canoe rightfully belongs,” 
laughed Seth, pointing to the heavy-laden craft. 
“ I wonder what was said when they missed it. 
I hope our good friend did not get into any 
trouble on account of it.” 

“No fear of that,” replied Putnam, “she's too 
clever to be found out. They’ll just think we 
managed it ourselves somehow.” 

“ But we’ll have to be doubly careful with all 
those canoes ahead of us,” said Seth. “ What 
had we better do? Keep behind them, or try 
and get away ahead to-night? ” 

“ Get ahead of them to-night by all means,” 
responded Putnam, “even though they do pass 
us again next day.” 

And this is what they did day after day and 
237 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


night after night, playing a unique and thrilling 
game of see-saw with the unwitting flotilla, 
which kept steadily on its way seaward, 
while they alternately led and followed in the 
rear. 

Many a narrow escape from discovery they 
had. More than once it seemed impossible that 
they should evade detection. But by a series 
of happy chances they succeeded in keeping out 
of sight to the end of the journey. 

Landing at Point Levi, which had been for 
some time in the possession of the English 
under General Wolfe, they met with a warm re- 
ception, and Seth was particularly pleased to 
find a band of Rangers forming part of the force 
there strongly entrenched. He was of, course, a 
welcome addition to the company, and had no 
difficulty in obtaining an officer’s outfit, which 
enabled him to take his proper place among 
them. 

The siege of Quebec had now been going on 
for many weeks, and although the English had 
firmly established themselves on the opposite 
shore of the St. Lawrence, as well as on the 
Island of Orleans below, and had wellnigh re- 
duced the city itself to ruins, the French showed 
no signs of yielding, and seemed determined to 
maintain the struggle indefinitely. 

Realizing that his operations, thus far, while 

no doubt greatly distressing the enemy, had not 
238 


OUT OF CAPTIVITY INTO ACTION 


brought the surrender of the city very much 
nearer, since it was nothing to lay Quebec in 
ruins if he could not also defeat the army that 
protected it, General Wolfe, with an ardor and 
daring that no difficulties could daunt, resolved 
to attempt an effective blow by striking the 
French army in flank or rear. 

To accomplish this his plan was to land below 
Montmorenci Falls, ascend the lofty river bank, 
cross the stream at the first ford above the falls, 
and attack the enemy from that quarter. 

The venture was made at night after several 
frigates had spent the day shelling the camp of 
the Chevalier de Levis, who occupied the heights 
just above the cataract. 

A force of three thousand men in all, includ- 
ing a company of Rangers under Seth’s com- 
mand, landed before day-break a little below the 
cataract, where they were opposed by a troop of 
Canadians and Indians. 

After a short but sharp encounter, with some 
loss on both sides, these were routed, and, led 
by the Rangers, the English made their way up 
the heights, gained the plateau above, and at 
once set about entrenching themselves, while 
Seth took his men into the forest in search of a 
place to ford the river. 

It was a dangerous mission, for who could tell 
how many Indians lurked in the leafy fastnesses ; 
but Seth was too happy at being once more in 
239 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


the thick of things to give a thought to the 
perils of his position. 

Following up the course of the tumultuous 
torrent he found it growing more placid and less 
deep, and felt confident of coming upon what 
he sought, when he was met by a large party of 
Indians, who poured a heavy fire upon his scanty 
ranks. 

The bullets whistled all about him, and sev- 
eral of his men went down, but he stood his 
ground at first, returning the fire with good 
effect until it became so clear that the odds were 
overwhelmingly against him that he ordered a 
retreat. 

Fortunately the sound of the firing brought 
the regulars up to his support, and the Indians 
were repulsed with heavy loss. 

But the search for the ford was discontinued, 
as Wolfe decided it would be best to make his 
position thoroughly strong before doing any- 
thing else, and the French allowed him to fortify 
himself undisturbed. 

Seth saw a great deal of the famous general 
at this time. His first impression was one of 
surprise. He could not understand how so re- 
nowned a commander could have so unimpos- 
ing an appearance. His slight frame, homely 
features, and red hair had nothing martial about 
them, and only his clear, bright, and piercing eye 
gave any hint of the heroic soul within. 

240 


OUT OF CAPTIVITY INTO ACTION 


But as the days went by and he witnessed his 
amazing energy, his wonderful foresight, his 
thorough mastery of the art of warfare, and his 
dauntless courage, he came fairly to worship 
him, and to have implicit faith in his achieving 
the great thing he had undertaken. 

“We may be a good while doing it, but we’ll 
take Quebec just as surely as we stand here at 
this moment,” he said to one of the English 
officers as they stood together looking toward 
the beleagured city. “ Whatever General Wolfe 
has set his mind upon is bound to be done.” 


1 6 


241 


CHAPTER XXIV 


THE GLORIOUS VICTORY 

The weeks went by and still Montcalm held 
Quebec, and the English invaders made little 
progress toward wresting it from him. Flags 
of truce often passed between the hostile camps. 

“You will demolish the town, no doubt,” said 
the bearer of one of them, “ but you shall never 
get inside of it.” 

To which Wolfe replied: 

“ I will have Quebec if I stay here till the end 
of November.” 

Along the river from Montmorenci Falls to 
Point Levi there were frequent artillery fights 
between the English warships and the French 
batteries, while bands of Indians infested the 
outskirts of the English camps, killing and scalp- 
ing the sentries at every opportunity. 

The special duty of the Rangers was to attend 
to these red devils, and they did it nobly. 

Seth was never idle. Had he needed any in- 
citement to diligence and daring in meeting the 
assaults of the Indians, his admiration for Gen- 
eral Wolfe and desire to merit his approval 
would have supplied it, and it was one of the 

242 


fHE GLORIOUS VICTORY 


proudest moments of his life when, on his return 
from a dash into the forest which had resulted 
in the despatching of a dozen Indians, and the 
taking of half as many prisoners, the General 
called him before him, and in the presence of 
his whole staff, said: 

“ I want to express to you, Lieutenant Allen, 
my appreciation of the very valuable service you 
and your Rangers are rendering. My own men 
know nothing about this forest fighting in which 
yours are so expert, and I would be well pleased 
if we had a much larger company of you than 
we have. When this business is over I will see 
to it that your excellent work receives due ac- 
knowledgment.” 

Seth heard this praise with heightened colour 
and throbbing pulses. No sweeter words had 
ever fallen upon his ears, and he was so moved 
that he found difficulty in making a brief re- 
sponse expressing his thanks for the commenda- 
tion, and assuring the general that he would 
continue to serve him to the utmost of his 
ability. 

Still the days grew into weeks, until autumn 
drew near without the defence of the city show- 
ing signs of weakening. A part of the English 
fleet had run the gauntlet of the French batter- 
ies and reached the upper river, so that the city 
was now exposed to attack from above and be- 
low as well as in front, but the unique strength 
243 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


of its situation enabled it even then to defy the 
invaders, who began to despair of accomplishing 
their object. 

At last Wolfe determined upon attempting 
the desperate expedient of landing a force on 
the beach above Quebec, scaling the precipitous 
bluff to the Plains of Abraham, and thence ad- 
vancing upon the city. 

No sooner did this daring design come to 
Seth’s knowledge than he resolved to have a 
part in the enterprise if he could, and he made 
haste to secure an interview with the general 
that he might prefer his request. 

He found the great man engrossed in busi- 
ness, and had to wait long before he could ob- 
tain his ear, but when he did make known his 
desire, the kindly smile that lit up the comman- 
der’s countenance augured well as to the nature 
of his reply. 

“ And so you are not content with having thus 
far escaped the scalping knives of your Indian 
friends, but hanker for further perils,” he said 
in a bantering tone. “ Do you realize what tre- 
mendous risks we are taking, and that there is a 
very good chance of our being cut to pieces, or 
taken prisoners? ” 

“ That does not trouble me in the least,” re- 
sponded Seth brightly. “ I only know that you 
intend to lead the attacking party yourself, and 
wherever you go I’m ready to go too.” 

244 


THE GLORIOUS VICTORY 


Rising from his seat General Wolfe stepped 
up to Seth and laid his hand upon his shoulder, 
while he said, in a voice that shook with emo- 
tion, for he had been greatly depressed of late, 
and the New England youth’s expression of 
loyal devotion had touched and cheered his 
heart : 

“ You’re a brave, true lad. I appreciate and 
honor your noble feelings. You shall go with 
us.” 

Seth murmured his thanks and withdrew in a 
state of high elation. He would not then have 
changed places with any officer in the whole 
English army. 

When Wolfe had gathered his men, whose 
total number fell short of five thousand, and the 
necessary boats and bateaux to transport them 
from the ships to the shore, he appointed the 
night for the venture. 

On a call being made for volunteers to lead 
the soldiers up the heights Seth was among the 
first to respond, and only twenty-four being 
wanted he was glad to be accepted for the dan- 
gerous task. 

It was a still dark night when the procession of 
boats carrying the vanguard of the English, fol- 
lowed by the ships with the remainder, borne 
on the current, steered silently down the St. 
Lawrence, and Seth in the foremost boat, so- 
bered by a sense of the tremendous risk, specu- 
245 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


lated as to the chances of being alive twenty-four 
hours hence. 

“ We’re bound to lose a good many of our 
men,” he said to himself, “ and maybe it will be 
my turn to fall. I’ve had a lot of narrow escapes 
and I suppose I can’t count on always being so 
lucky. Well, there’s no telling, and I’m not 
going to worry about it. I’ll just do the best I 
can, and leave the rest to Providence.” 

As the boats neared their destination the tide 
bore them in toward the shore, and suddenly 
the silence was broken by the sharp “ qui vive ” 
of a French sentry invisible in the darkness. 

Now Seth had put to good use the long 
months of his captivity at Montreal by acquir- 
ing a knowledge of the French language, having 
noticed what an advantage Major Rogers found 
his command of it to be, and so with quick wit 
he responded: 

iC France .” 

“A quel regiment" ? the sentry demanded, 
being not altogether satisfied. 

“ De la Reine" answered Seth, because he 
knew that this corps was with Bougainville up 
the river, and the sentry, who was expecting a 
convoy of provisions from that direction, asked 
no more awkward questions. 

But the danger from this source was not yet 
over. A little further on another vigilant sen- 
try challenged, and ran down to the water’s edge 
246 


THE GLORIOUS VICTORY 


to get a better look at them. Seth, however, 
was equal to the occasion. 

“ Be quiet,” he said, in a tone of reproof, “ or 
the English will hear us. We have provisions 
for the army.” 

As an English war vessel lay at anchor not 
very far off the warning seemed well-founded, 
and the suspicions of the sentry being allayed, 
he, too, forebore to question further. 

A few minutes later the boats rounded the 
headland above the Anse du Foulon, and were 
beached on the narrow strand at the foot of the 
heights. 

Seth and his fellow-volunteers at once sprang 
ashore, and set about climbing the steep, tree- 
clothed ascent, being closely followed by a num- 
ber of regulars. 

It was a no less difficult than perilous task, 
and had the French above been on the alert 
they might easily have foiled the daring attempt, 
for the climbers could not'have defended them- 
selves, seeing that it required all their energies 
to work their way up. 

Seth could not help thinking how easily a 
stalwart guardsman might drive them back sin- 
gle-handed, and it was with a very decided feel- 
ing of relief that at last, breathless and wellnigh 
spent, he reached the top unchallenged, and saw 
in the dim light a cluster of tents not far away. 

As soon as the others had joined him, and 

247 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


they had caught their breath, they charged upon 
the tents, which, strange to say, were without a 
sentry, and the sleeping inmates, suddenly 
aroused, made little resistance, the most of them 
fleeing panic-stricken, while a few were taken 
prisoners. 

Having thus become masters of the position 
the little band now hurrahed heartily, and the 
glad sound falling upon the ears of General 
Wolfe, anxiously waiting below, he at once gave 
the command for the remainder of the troops to 
follow, and up they went, some here and some 
there, clutching at trees and bushes, their mus- 
kets strung at their backs. 

The general himself was one of the foremost 
to reach the top, although before starting he 
said to one of the officers : 

“ You can try it, but I don’t think you’ll get 
up.” 

By day-break his battalions were drawn 
up in good order along the crest of the heights, 
and not being opposed they advanced thence to 
the Plains of Abraham, and formed their line of 
battle within a mile of the city. 

So utterly unexpected was their appearance 
that the French were thrown into confusion for 
a time, and there were orders and counter-orders, 
misunderstanding, perplexity, and delay until at 
last Montcalm assumed the responsibility of 
proceeding to the attack. 

248 


THE GLORIOUS VICTORY 


Nearly two thousand Canadians and Indians 
acting as sharp-shooters fusilladed the English 
in front and flank, and many of their bullets 
caused gaps in the red lines until the soldiers 
were ordered to lie down on the grass so as to 
avoid the deadly fire. 

Seth was thoroughly at home in this kind of 
fighting, and working his way to an advantage- 
ous position, he made every shot tell. 

It was toward ten o’clock before the main 
body of the French advanced to the attack. 
They had formed themselves into three bodies, 
and they came on rapidly, uttering loud shouts, 
and firing as soon as they were within range. 

Instead of returning the fire the English ad- 
vanced a few rods, then halted, and stood still 
and silent until their antagonists were within 
forty paces of them, when the word of command 
rang out, and a crash of musketry answered all 
along the line. 

The volley was delivered with remarkable 
precision, and when the smoke cleared away, its 
terrible effect was immediately manifest, for the 
ground was strewn with dead and wounded, 
while the advancing force had stopped short, 
and was turned into a frantic mob of shouting, 
cursing, gesticulating men. 

The English commander was quick to see his 
opportunity and gave the order to charge. Then 

oyer fh£ field rose the British cheer mingled 
249 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


with the fierce yell of the Highland slogan. 
Some of the corps pushed forward with the bay- 
onet. Others continued to use their muskets, 
but the Highlanders drew their broadswords 
and charged furiously, making deadly play with 
their long, keen, weapons. 

Seth, who had kept well to the front through 
it all, and had done his full share of the fight- 
ing, now found himself in close proximity to the 
general, who was leading the Louisbourg Grena- 
diers in the charge. 

“ He is too brave. He should not take such 
risks. He ought to let his officers do that for 
him,” was the Ranger’s comment, as he saw how 
recklessly Wolfe was exposing himself, for 
although the courage of it filled him with admi- 
ration, his shrewd common-sense told him that 
the commander-in-chief ought not to be exposed 
to the same dangers as his subordinates. 

But Wolfe had no thought for himself. Vic- 
tory at any cost, even that of his own life, was 
his one supreme object, and he pressed onward 
as though the routing of the enemy depended 
upon his personal efforts. 

Presently a bullet struck him in the wrist, 
badly shattering it, but he simply wrapped his 
handkerchief about the wound, and kept on. 

Again he was struck, yet still undaunted he 
continued to advance until a third shot lodged 
in his breast, and he staggered and sat down. 

25Q 


THE GLORIOUS VICTORY 


At once several officers, of whom Seth was 
one, hastened to his help, and bore him tenderly 
to the rear, where he begged them to lay him 
down. 

They did so, and Seth asked if he should go 
in search of a surgeon. 

“ There’s no need,” answered Wolfe, in a tone 
of complete conviction, “ it’s all over with me.” 

A moment later Seth having turned to glance 
at the battle-field, called out, exultantly: 

“ They run, see how they run ! ” 

“Who run?” Wolfe demanded like a man 
roused from sleep. 

“ The enemy, sir,” responded Seth. “ They’re 
giving way everywhere.” 

“ Go one of you to Colonel Burton,” returned 
the great commander, not forgetting his duty 
even though his life-blood was fast ebbing, “ tell 
him to march Webb’s regiment down to the 
Charles River to cut off their retreat.” 

Then turning on his side, while the ghastly 
pallor of death overspread his features, he mur- 
mured : 

“ Now God be praised, I will die in peace,” 
and passed away. 

Profoundly moved Seth stayed by the body 
of the departed hero, saying to himself : 

“ What a pity ! Why didn’t he live to enjoy 
the glory of his victory ! He shouldn’t have led 
the charge. But it’s too late now.” 

251 


WITH ROGERS ON THE FRONTIER 


Meanwhile the exultant English swept on, 
driving their panic-stricken opponents before 
them almost up to the gates of the city through 
which the fugitives poured pellmell, with their 
gallant commander Montcalm, mortally wound- 
ed, in their midst and supported in his saddle 
by a soldier on either side. 

Wolfe’s work was done, and he had paid for 
it with his own life. With the taking of Quebec 
the mastery of the continent passed into the 
hands of the English, and the dominion of the 
French ceased for all time. 

When the joy over the victory and the sorrow 
over the death of Wolfe had in a measure mod- 
erated, a piece of news reached Seth that gave 
him keen satisfaction, and made him wish that 
it had been possible for him to be in two places 
at once. 

This was that a strong force under the com- 
mand of Lord Amherst had succeeded in wrest- 
ing both Ticonderoga and Crown Point from 
the enemy, and that the whole region about the 
beautiful lakes was in possession of the English. 

“ And can you tell me how are Major Rogers 
and the Rangers?” Seth eagerly inquired of his 
informant. 

“ They’re all right, so far as I know,” was the 
satisfactory answer. “They did splendid work 
all through the campaign.” 

There being nothing for him to do in Canada 
252 


THE GLORIOUS VICTORY 


Seth lost no time in rejoining his own leader, 
whom he found at Albany, enjoying a well- 
earned rest after his arduous services. 

The meeting between the two friends was 
very cordial, and it took many hours of talk for 
them to tell each other of their experiences dur- 
ing their long separation. 

The conclusion of the war rendering unnec- 
essary the maintenance of the Rangers their 
commander returned to his more profitable 
occupation of trading, but Seth had grown too 
fond of a soldier’s life to give it up, and accord- 
ingly he sought and obtained a commission in 
the regular army, where he ultimately rose to 
high rank by the exercise of those same quali- 
ties of self-control, steadfastness, and sagacity 
which had distinguished him when he was one 
of Rogers’ Rangers. 


253 






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